It’s only two paragraphs…

 Literary: writing about how a piece of literature is written.
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Literary: Linking literary terms to the theme
Abstract: An abbreviated paper…in this case just two paragraphs.

 You need to start by selecting a literary element that helps show a theme from Oedipus
Rex.
 Literary elements:
 Motifs
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Sight vs. Blindness symbolism
 Characterization
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Oedipus’ pride and anger

 Humans willingly ignore the truth.
 The pride of human nature leads to tragic results

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This is a normal introduction paragraph.
Your attention-getter should touch on your theme.
But DON’T mention the play yet.
Then introduce your theme.
Then make a connection to Oedipus Rex.
Next, you need a summary of the play.
Last you need to end with a thesis statement.
Should be around 200 words.

 The last sentence of the introduction paragraph that tells exactly what your paper is about.
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Must be a definitive statement that is arguable.
“In the play
Oedipus Rex Sophocles uses
_________ to show __________.
(Literary term) (Theme)

 This is where you prove your thesis.
 This is a normal body paragraph.
 Must start with a topic sentence (in this case, it will be very similar to your thesis statement).
 You must provide three examples from the play to support your thesis.
 End the paragraph with a clincher and a transition to the next paragraph (which won’t exist)

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First tell me the context of the example: when it happens, who said it (if it’s dialogue), why it happened
Provide a quote, summary, or paraphrase –
MUST BE CITED!
Explain how the example proves your thesis.

Thesis: In Oedipus Rex Sophocles uses irony to emphasize Oedipus’ tragic nature.
Because the ancient Greeks already knew the story of
Oedipus and how it ends, a lot of what Oedipus says is ironic. During Act I Oedipus makes a decree describing what will happen to the murderer of Liaus when he is caught. He also explains how serious he is about finding this killer. Oedipus says,
“I will fight for him [Liaus] as I would fight for my own father” (282-283). Since the people know that
Oedipus actually is fighting for his father, this ironic statement makes Oedipus all the more a pitiful and tragic figure.

 When you quote a poem always put a slash (/) between words where the line ends.
Ex. “Oedipus, whose name / Is greatest known and greatest feared” (7-8).
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When citing a poem, provide the lines quoted in parenthesis.
The period always goes on the outside of the parenthesis.
With a new line of poetry, capitalize the first letter.

 Make the quote part of another sentence rather than just its own sentence.
Ex. When Oedipus makes his decree he includes himself saying, “If I [Oedipus] give him shelter, knowing who /
He is… / I ask this punishment for myself” (267-269).
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For extra content needed to understand a quote, use
[brackets].
For content you are taking out, use ellipsis (…)

 NEVER use the word “example” when referring to an example!
Ex. The Chorus in Oedipus Rex is very smart.
One example of that would be when they say, “His fury mastered him” (545).
BAD!

 Instead do it like this:
Ex. In Oedipus Rex the Chorus is very smart.
After the argument between Oedipus and
Creon, it is the Chorus that realizes that what was spoken was done so in anger as they tell Creon “His fury mastered him; /
Perhaps he did not mean the charge” (545-
546).
GOOD!