Oedipus the King
Essay Questions
You will select one of the following prompts and develop a well-written essay with an introduction and a
conclusion that answers the question. You will be analyzing how this play reflects universal themes and
lessons applicable in all times and places. You may choose to compare these themes to modern day beliefs
but you must include an analysis of how Sophocles answers this question in Oedipus the King. You must
include at least five direct quotes from the text in your essay (blended into your sentences). Your essay
should be between 2 and 4 pages.
Essay Questions
1. How does Sophocles use irony to create what Aristotle calls catharsis (pity and fear) in the audience
with Oedipus the King? How does irony contribute to the tragic effect of the play? You may also
compare another example of irony in a movie or a book used to create catharsis with a modern
audience to illustrate how a text produces this effect.
2. Fate vs. Free Will: What is the relationship between fate and free will in Sophocles’ Oedipus the
King? Are humans just “playthings of the gods” or do they control their own path? Compare the
Greek view to our modern ideas of fate versus free will.
o Consider Oedipus’ exclamation, “I abandoned Corinth, / from that day on I gauged its
landfall only / by the stars, running, always running / towards some place where I would
never see / the shame of all those oracles come true” (Lines 875-880).
3. Select a thematic statement from your anticipation guide. Argue what Sophocles’ Oedipus the King
reveals about that theme. Would the Greeks agree or disagree with the selected statement? What
about your own personal beliefs? Compare and contrast this theme in Greek culture as well as our
modern culture.
Essay Requirements
Your essay must include the following:
 Introduction (including a hook, context—name of the play and playwright, and a clear thesis
statement)
 Body Paragraphs
o Topic Sentence (assert the main claim of each paragraph in the beginning)
o Evidence (direct quotes blended into your sentences). You must have at least five direct
quotes in your essay.
o Commentary (Warrant your evidence to your claim and overall thesis statement)
 Conclusion (include a review of your main points and synthesize your points to the greater
world).
Other Rules for Your Essay
 Your essay must be between 2 and 4 pages long.
 Your essay must be in MLA format and include a Works Cited.
 You may not use 2nd person (absolutely no “you” in your paper).
 When you are discussing literature, you should always use the present tense.
Essay Planner
As you start planning your essay, consider the values of Greek culture in Sophocles’ Oedipus the King as
compared to the values in our modern culture.
Values in Greek Culture
Values in Modern Culture
1.
1.
2.
2.
3.
3.
After considering your interests, write your thesis statement in the box below. Your thesis statement
should be your overall claim in your paper.
In the box below, create an outline or a web for your body paragraphs with your main claims and ideas for
evidence.