Introduction

Sophocles lead a life of privilege but was devoted to the service of state. He died, "leaving Athens materially exhausted and spiritually wrecked by the physical and moral strains of the conflict."
Origins of drama stem from "not only the human instinct for narrative and impersonation, but also the instinct for the ritualistic expression and interpretation of the power of natural forces, the cycle of life and death, and the nexus of past, present, and future."nexus: a connection or series of connections linking two or more things.
Chorus will function as an actor and commentator; will personify and "sing" the leading themes in the play; will stand aloof from the more highly developed plot and action while still unifying and commenting on the drama; will literally dance across the stage; offers commentary on the struggles the primary characters encounter.
Dramatic Irony is when the people in the audience know whats going on but the people in the play do not. When the audience knows that he killed his father and married his mother, but no one in the play has any idea until they get told.