How to Write an Outline

I. Introduction

A. quote: Men can only find true happiness when destiny is accepted (85)

B. Story about destiny influencing lives; do you believe in it or not?

C. Thesis: In Oedipus Rex, Sophocles examines the nature of destiny using Oedipus’ blindness to the truth, his stubborn pride and his uncontrollable wrath.

II. 1st support – blindness to truthA. Unwilling to listen to Tiresias

1. Tiriesias tells him he is murderer (13)a. Oedipus threatens him with torture

2. accuses him of conspiring with Creon (15)B. Lashes out at Creon

1. Defends himselfa. Already have power, don’t want responsibility (17)b. Oedipus banishes him(18)

2. Ironic at end Creon must take overa. Agrees to care for daughters and banished Oedipus to lift curse

(60)

C. Angry with Jocasta1. Believes she is embarrased that he is of noble birth (47)2. Misunderstands he when she says she will kill herself.

D. Tie to focus- Shows destiny is already predetermined 1. Actions happened 20 years earlier2. Could not have prevented it, but made things worse

III. 2nd support – stubborn prideA. Believes in his own greatness

1. Hero who defeated the Sphynx (4)2. Chorus is always praising him

a. Feel that he may be descended from gods (47)b. Come to him to find the cure for the plague (7)

B. Feels he already escaped destiny1. Adoption rumor

a. Parents denied it (32)b. Left Corinth because he didn’t want to fulfill prophecy

(28)

2. Messenger brings news of Polybus’ deatha. Oedipus believes he has beaten fate (42)

C. Tie to focus - Shows that when you try to run from destiny, you actually run into it

IV. Third Support – uncontrollable wrathA. Road rage

1. killed old man on road (24) a. should never have killed elderly man

2. unwilling to admit murder for 20 yearsB. Quick fury at Creon 1. willingness to turn on best friend (18)C. Jocasta and punishment

1. rips door out of hinges (50)a. calls for berserker rageb. doors were heavy, oak

2. calls for sword (49)a. intended to kill Jocasta, but already dead

3. gouges out own eyes (52)a. uses pins from queen’s dressb. repeatedly stabs, over and over

D. tie to focus – anger can blind you to your mistakes, letting destiny take it course.

V. Conclusion

A. Ties back into the way you opened the introduction

B. Restates main thesis