Oedipus Rex Group

Question:

hennessey943
hennessey943
Student
High School - 11th Grade

I have to write an essay for my AP Literature class on Oedipus Rex, and I'm having a bit of trouble developing a thesis.

The prompt is, "Write an essay in which you discuss the imagery of 'revelation' in Oedipus Rex." Could someone help me with this?

Rate question:

Posted by hennessey943 on Thursday October 29, 2009 at 11:50 AM and tagged with oedipus, oedipus rex, rex, sophocles, thesis statement.

Answers:


  1. akannan Teacher
    Middle School

    eNotes Editor

    Any essay of this magnitude will require a great deal of analysis with textual support.  This means that what is generated here has to be reflected upon and analyzed with textual evidence, so be prepared to go back and scour through the text.  The role of revelation is a powerful one and it might be beneficial to analyze Oedipus' reaction to such revelation throughout the text.  For example, when Tiresias enters with his prophecy, examining Oedipus' reaction could be very compelling.  How does he receive it?  How does Tiresias' words constitute prophecy?  Is there revelation present?  Contrast this with the ending when revelation is present in all of its awful glory.  How does is this received by Oedipus and others?  Perhaps, the strength of the analysis here is being able to understand the role of the reception of revelation throughout Sophocles' work.  This is where the text will be critical, in identifying specific scenes' depiction of revelation and its reception on the part of multiple characters.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/oedipus-rex/themes

    Rate answer:

    Posted by akannan on Saturday October 31, 2009 at 7:02 AM