Oedipus, The King by Sophocles
Oedipus, The King is a tragedy written by Sophocles in the 5th century BC. It tells the story of Oedipus, a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother. The play begins with Oedipus, the King of Thebes, trying to solve the mystery of a plague that has befallen the city. He sends his brother-in-law, Creon, to the oracle at Delphi to find out what the gods want. The oracle reveals that the plague is a punishment for the murder of the former king, Laius. Oedipus swears to find the murderer and punish him. Meanwhile, a shepherd arrives with news that Oedipus is not the son of the King and Queen of Thebes, as he had always believed. He reveals that Oedipus was abandoned as a baby and adopted by the King and Queen. Oedipus is horrified to learn that he may have killed his own father. He sends for the blind prophet, Tiresias, who reveals that Oedipus is indeed the murderer of Laius. Oedipus is devastated and blinds himself in despair. He is exiled from Thebes and his two daughters, Antigone and Ismene, are left to rule in his place. The play ends with Oedipus in exile, his fate unknown. The audience is left to ponder the consequences of Oedipus’ actions and the power of fate.
By Sophocles · First published -429 · Genre: Tragedy, Classical Literature, Drama · 4 chapters · 16,689 words
First lines
SCENE: Before the Palace of OEDIPUS at Thebes. A crowd of suppliants of all ages are waiting by the altar in front and on the steps of the Palace; among them the PRIEST OF ZEUS. As the Palace door opens and OEDIPUS comes out all the suppliants with a cry move towards him in attitudes of prayer, holding out their olive branches, and then become still again as he speaks: OEDIPUS.
What this Textopian page supports
Oedipus, The King is listed on Textopian as a play by Sophocles, dated 429 BCE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Play
- Author: Sophocles
- Date: 429 BCE
- Language: English
- Genres: Tragedy, Classical Literature, Drama, Mythology
- Length: 16,689 words
- Structure: 4 chapters, 733 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Very Easy (5th Grade or below)
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- Work identity for Oedipus, The King by Sophocles
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Oedipus, The King?
- How does this play by Sophocles fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Tragedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Tragedy — The play follows the story of Oedipus, a man who unknowingly kills his father and marries his mother, and is considered a classic example of tragedy.
- Classical Literature — The play is a part of the three Theban plays written by Sophocles, and is considered a classic example of Ancient Greek literature.
- Drama — The play is a dramatic work, written in verse and intended for performance on stage.
- Mythology — The play is based on the Greek myth of Oedipus, and is set in the city of Thebes.
Tags
Drama · Oedipus (Greek mythological figure) · Tragedies · art · cast · child · children · creon · dark · day · death · doth
Contents
- Chapter 1: Oedipus, King of Thebes
- Chapter 1: Preface
- Chapter 2: Characters in the Play
- Chapter 3: Argument