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Aristotle considered Oedipus the King to be the finest of all Greek tragedies.

a. True
b. False

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Aristotle indeed lauded 'Oedipus the King' as the quintessence of Greek tragedy in his 'Poetics', praising its complex plot, relevant ethical choices, and the educative experience it provided to the audience through the character's journey and downfall.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is true that Aristotle considered Oedipus the King to be the finest of all Greek tragedies. In his work, Poetics, Aristotle used Oedipus the King by Sophocles as a prime example to outline the important elements of a tragedy, such as characters of noble birth and a plot with ethical dilemmas related to the greater community. He emphasized that the Greek hero's actions should be of relevance, going beyond personal gain, which is vividly depicted in the ethical choices and the downfall of Oedipus.

Oedipus was a character with a high social status and represented the idea of humility before fate, despite having the means to manipulate outcomes. His hamartia, or tragic flaw, was his arrogance, and through his journey, the audience experiences catharsis. Aristotle extolled Sophocles' play for its intricate storytelling and educational value, as the protagonist accepts responsibility for his actions and becomes a lesson to others.

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