The Use of Dramatic Irony in Sophocles Oedipus the King...

The Use of Dramatic Irony in Sophocles Oedipus the King Tragedy as an element of the human experience has been the subject of many of the great works of literature written in the Western tradition. For some, tragedy embodies the highest form of humanity. It is through suffering that we are able to reveal ourselves most completely. Others see tragedy as an element of morality where we are to learn well the lessons of those who tempt the gods. The Ancient Greek philosopher, Aristotle, outlined a theory of tragedy as archetypal drama in his classic work, the Poetics. He uses the play by Sophocles, Oedipus the King (hereafter Oedipus), as the standard model by which all other tragedies are measured. In Aristotles view, a perfect†¦show more content†¦The character of Oedipus exemplifies these elements of strong personality embodied by tragic action. Lastly, Aristotle thinks that the fate of the tragic character must be reconciled with the audience. The suffering has some specific cause and purpose to reach a resolution, or in direct terms a catharsis. Without this resolution, the suffering would be for nothing and the tragedy has less meaning. Sophocles was born a hundred years before Aristotle and perhaps was not aware that he wrote a near-perfect representation of the tragic form. Almost certainly, however, he was conscious of the dramatic irony he carefully intertwined throughout the plot. Dramatic irony was a tool for Sophocles to advance the notion of the tragic one step beyond the simple fate of the main character. Dramatic irony is a literary technique allowing the audience to know of the characters fate well before such fate occurs. The difference between the audiences knowledge of the tragic circumstances and that of the ignorant characters heightens the depth of the tragedy. The more significant the ultimate sacrifice which the innocent hero makes, the more powerful the message sent to those inShow MoreRelatedLiterature: Compare and Contrast - Literary Devices5483 Words   |  22 Pagesages, writing non-fiction and fictional stories, poetry, and essays. The act of analyzing two different authors by both co mparing their work and isolating their contrasting elements, can be difficult, yet rewarding. Oedipus Rex (Sophocles), written in 429 B.C., offers the authors use of Greek Mythology, oracles, Greek gods, deception, and murder. Throughout the series of events, the reader is given clues to the true identity of the murderer resulting in a traumatic climax. Sophocles writesRead MoreClassification of Literature3483 Words   |  14 PagesCLASSIFICATIONs OF LITERATURE I. Divisions of Literature Literature Prose Poetry Fiction Nonfiction Dramatic Narrative Lyric Drama Short Story Novel Tale Fable Myth Legends Folktales Essay Biography Autobiography Diary History Chronicle News Anecdote Tragedy Comedy Opera Operetta Ballad Epic Metrical Tale Metrical Romance Ode Sonnet Song Elegy POINT OF COMPARISON | PROSE | POETRY | Form | Paragraph | Verse | Language | Words and rhythms of ordinary and everyday language | Metrical,