World Literature Essay- The Usage of Time to Create Dramatic Effect in Greek Literature

Time is the flow of events in an irreversible sequence. It is an essential component to every piece of literature. Without time, the plot would cease to flow logically and comprehensibly. Time is especially important in Homer's The Odyssey and Sophocles' Oedipus the King. In story telling and drama, time can be controlled. Homer and Sophocles use the sequence and timing of events to build up dramatic effect. They have similarities and differences in their …

…on a condemning role to Oedipus2. Homer and Sophocles create dramatic effect by arranging and displaying events, both past and present, to their advantage. They effectively build the two pieces up to one particular moment, and they intensify that moment. Time can be manipulated, but the essence of time can never be changed. Word Count: 1493 Bibliography: Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. E. V. Rieu. New York: Penguin, 1991. Sophocles. Oedipus Rex. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin, 1999.