He must be … Oedipus' brilliance and determination serve him well in solving mysteries — like the riddle of the Sphinx — but lead ultimately to his tragic downfall. At last, the furious Oedipus orders Tiresias away. Oedipus Rex Summary. The story of Oedipus and the tragedies that befell his family were nothing new to Sophocles's audience. Oedipus' address to the people of Thebes offers yet another opportunity for dramatic irony. Tiresias grows angry and says that Oedipus is the cause of … A boy leads in the blind prophet Tiresias. Oedipus sends for Tiresias, the blind prophet, to help with the investigation. According to the oracle, the killer lives in Thebes. The chorus glorifies the gods and destiny, rejecting human pride. Creon tells Oedipus and the assembled priests the words of the god Apollo, according to the oracle. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Before Oedipus became king, the previous king, Laius, was murdered, and his murderer was never discovered. Analysis. Oedipus accuses Tiresias of playing a part in Laius's death. Puzzled at first, then angry, Oedipus insists that Tiresias tell Thebes what he knows. Summary. Summary. As the play opens, Oedipus, the king of Thebes, asks from a group of people that why they are gathered there. Analysis. When the play opens, Thebes is suffering a plague which leaves its fields and women barren. “Oedipus the King” (Gr: “Oidipous Tyrannos”; Lat: “Oedipus Rex”) is a tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Sophocles, first performed in about 429 BCE. Describing himself as "a stranger to the story" (248) of the king's murder, Oedipus nevertheless declares that he will fight for Laius "as if … In this article, students will come across a detailed summary of Oedipus the King (Oedipus Rex); a Greek tragedy written by Sophocles. O edipus Rex is a Greek tragedy that tells the story of King Oedipus of Thebes, who is fated to kill his father and marry his mother.. Thebes is … Tiresias comes, but refuses to tell Oedipus what he has seen in his prophetic visions. In the ode, the chorus reflects Oedipus' emerging belief that the prophecies may … All the people were led by an old priest having garlands and flowers. Greek authors routinely drew their basic material from a cycle of four epic poems, known as the Theban Cycle, that was already ancient in the fifth century B.C.E. The keynote of Oedipus' character lies in his will to know — and, thereby, to control reality. Start studying Sophocles' Oedipus the King Study Guide. Summary Oedipus the King, lines 338–706 Summary Oedipus the King, lines 338–706. It was the second of Sophocles‘ three Theban plays to be produced, but it comes first in the internal chronology (followed by “Oedipus at Colonus” and then “Antigone”). Oedipus begs him to reveal who Laius’s murderer is, but Tiresias answers only that he knows the truth but wishes he did not.