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Oedipus Rex according to Freytag’s pyramid

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Masuda Akter
Masuda Akter

The document summarizes the plot of Oedipus Rex according to Freytag's pyramid. It discusses how Oedipus' pride leads him to declare finding the murderer of King Laius, triggering rising tension. His refusal to heed warnings causes further tension until the revelation that he himself killed Laius and married his mother. This brings simultaneous peripeteia and anagnorisis, followed by Jocasta's suicide leaving Oedipus with nothing. For his people, Oedipus fulfills his promise by banishing himself.

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‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid Assignment Eng-114 Plot of Oedipus Rex according to Freytag’s pyramid Masuda Akter Tonima ID: 11115002 Dept: MNS
‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid According to Aristotle, tragedy that has its outcome depending on its tightly constructed structure is superior to those that are simple and only depending on the character of the protagonist. The plot must have and unity of action where one is the result of the other and fits. Freytag’s diagram is a modern and improved version of the plot of a superior tragedy. Both Aristotle’s and Freytag’s theories are based on Oedipus Rex. Therefore Oedipus Rex is the perfect example since it shows perfectly how one action is directly proportional to its preceding action. Oedipus being the proud king that he is, declares publically his decision of finding out the murderer of King Laius and either killing or banishing him. That is the moment that triggers the rising tension of the play. His pride being the reason for him, ignoring all the signs. This is what would be typically called the incentive moment of this great Greek tragedy. Then, gradually his actions in order to find the truth causes increase in tension, which clearly represents the steep rise in the Freytag’s diagram. His pride, his Hamartia, again, blinds him from seeing all the warnings around him by, at first by Tiresias followed by the warning of the shepherd and finally Jocasta. Peripeteia and Anagnorisis comes simultaneously to Oedipus very closely followed by his falling action. The great ruler finally discovers the truth, realises his mistake and falls towards his demise. Tiresias being offended by Oedipus finally reveals the truth about him. Oedipus being a reasonable man tries to find evidence of the accusations and finally realises his mistake and the incest that has been caused by him which he tried so hard to avoid. Jocasta’s suicide causes Oedipus to be broken completely and leaves him at the lowest level of psychological stability. This is where a great ruler is finally left with nothing, and can be considered, a beggar, where he has no one to lean on to.
‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid But this was not all that had to happen in the great Oedipus’ life, even though he had lost everything and everyone that ever mattered to him, he still had duty left towards his people as a king. He had promised to solve their problems by finding out the killer of Laius and banishing him. Hence the great ruler had to banish himself from his own kingdom which was his both by birth and moral right, for the sake of his people.
‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid Reference  http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetics_(Aristotle)  http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripeteia  King Oedipus  Theories of Drama

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Oedipus Rex according to Freytag’s pyramid

  • 1. ‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid Assignment Eng-114 Plot of Oedipus Rex according to Freytag’s pyramid Masuda Akter Tonima ID: 11115002 Dept: MNS
  • 2. ‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid According to Aristotle, tragedy that has its outcome depending on its tightly constructed structure is superior to those that are simple and only depending on the character of the protagonist. The plot must have and unity of action where one is the result of the other and fits. Freytag’s diagram is a modern and improved version of the plot of a superior tragedy. Both Aristotle’s and Freytag’s theories are based on Oedipus Rex. Therefore Oedipus Rex is the perfect example since it shows perfectly how one action is directly proportional to its preceding action. Oedipus being the proud king that he is, declares publically his decision of finding out the murderer of King Laius and either killing or banishing him. That is the moment that triggers the rising tension of the play. His pride being the reason for him, ignoring all the signs. This is what would be typically called the incentive moment of this great Greek tragedy. Then, gradually his actions in order to find the truth causes increase in tension, which clearly represents the steep rise in the Freytag’s diagram. His pride, his Hamartia, again, blinds him from seeing all the warnings around him by, at first by Tiresias followed by the warning of the shepherd and finally Jocasta. Peripeteia and Anagnorisis comes simultaneously to Oedipus very closely followed by his falling action. The great ruler finally discovers the truth, realises his mistake and falls towards his demise. Tiresias being offended by Oedipus finally reveals the truth about him. Oedipus being a reasonable man tries to find evidence of the accusations and finally realises his mistake and the incest that has been caused by him which he tried so hard to avoid. Jocasta’s suicide causes Oedipus to be broken completely and leaves him at the lowest level of psychological stability. This is where a great ruler is finally left with nothing, and can be considered, a beggar, where he has no one to lean on to.
  • 3. ‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid But this was not all that had to happen in the great Oedipus’ life, even though he had lost everything and everyone that ever mattered to him, he still had duty left towards his people as a king. He had promised to solve their problems by finding out the killer of Laius and banishing him. Hence the great ruler had to banish himself from his own kingdom which was his both by birth and moral right, for the sake of his people.
  • 4. ‘Oedipus Rex’ according to Freytag’s pyramid Reference  http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poetics_(Aristotle)  http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripeteia  King Oedipus  Theories of Drama