Name a major tragedy by Sophocles.

Name a major tragedy by Sophocles.

• A. The Iliad
• B. Electra
• C. Oedipus the King
• D. The Aeneid

Answer: (C)

Oedipus the King fits as Sophocles’ most renowned tragedy and a defining example of classical tragedy. It centers on a noble ruler whose attempt to avoid a prophesied fate leads to the very catastrophe he hopes to prevent, illustrating a fatal flaw and the limits of human control. The play showcases key tragic elements—hamartia (a tragic error), peripeteia (a reversal of fortune), and anagnorisis (a moment of critical realization)—that culminate in a powerful, morally complex catastrophe. Its influence on drama and literary theory is why it’s studied as a quintessential Sophoclean tragedy and often used as a benchmark for the form. The Iliad and The Aeneid are by other authors (Homer and Virgil, respectively), and Electra, while also by Sophocles, is less central as the defining example of his major works.

Oedipus the King fits as Sophocles’ most renowned tragedy and a defining example of classical tragedy. It centers on a noble ruler whose attempt to avoid a prophesied fate leads to the very catastrophe he hopes to prevent, illustrating a fatal flaw and the limits of human control. The play showcases key tragic elements—hamartia (a tragic error), peripeteia (a reversal of fortune), and anagnorisis (a moment of critical realization)—that culminate in a powerful, morally complex catastrophe. Its influence on drama and literary theory is why it’s studied as a quintessential Sophoclean tragedy and often used as a benchmark for the form. The Iliad and The Aeneid are by other authors (Homer and Virgil, respectively), and Electra, while also by Sophocles, is less central as the defining example of his major works.