# Oedipus Rex

**Author:** Sophocles
**Grade range:** Grades 9–12
**Age range:** 14–18
**First published:** -429
**Page count:** 80
**Genre:** Drama
**ISBN-13:** `9780486268774`
**ISBN-10:** `0486268772`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/oedipus-rex
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Sophocles' ancient Greek tragedy follows King Oedipus of Thebes as his determined search for the murderer who has cursed the city leads, with terrible irony, back to himself — fulfilling the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. The play is the classic study of fate versus free will and tragic recognition. It is a standard grades 9-12 and AP/world-literature text, often paired with Antigone.

## Themes

- fate
- fate vs free will
- pride
- identity
- justice

## Content notes

- violence
- incest (thematic)
- suicide

## Where this book is assigned

### AP English Literature & Composition

- **recommended** · 11th grade — [source: AP Lit drama representative text](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-english-literature-and-composition)
- **recommended** · 12th grade — [source: AP Lit drama representative text](https://apcentral.collegeboard.org/courses/ap-english-literature-and-composition)

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