The Dramatic Structure of
“Oedipus the King”
The Greek Tragedy
• Believed that dramatic structure of
Greek tragedy influenced the
eventual division of a play into acts
and scenes.
• Greek tragedy divided into five
sections.
1. The Prologue (Prologos)
• Opening portion of the play
• Sets the scene and contains the
exposition
2. The Parados
• Entrance song of the Chorus
• Named after the broad isles on
either side of the theatron
(theatre), where the Chorus
entered and exited from.
3. The Episodes (Scenes)
• Scene in the action (plot) of the
drama.
• Scenes (episodes) are performed by
the actors (distinguished from stasimons—
performed by the Chorus).
• Episodes alternate with the
stasimons.
4. Stasimons (Odes)
• A choral passage (performed by the
Chorus)
• Alternates with the episodes
• Type of lyric poem.
• Chorus performed through song
and dance accompanied by
instruments.
5. Exodos
• Concluding section of the
tragedy.
• Ends with the chorus singing
their final lines as they exit.
How Oedipus relates to
Plot Structure:
• Exposition—Prologue, Parados
• Rising Action—Scene 1, Ode 1
through Scene 3,Ode 3
• Climax—Scene 4
• Falling Action—Ode 4, Exodos
• Resolution--Exodos