What is the narrative structure of Oedipus Rex?Oedipus Rex by Sophocles

The narrative structure of Oedipus
Rex is that of a classical Greek play:

PROLOGUE
(first act)

In this part the play opens with the form of a
dialoge in which the protagonist expresses the statement on which the rest of the play
proceeds.  In Oedipus Rex, all the details necessary to Laius's murder are presented. 
From these details the plot will develop.  The prologue then ends with a choral oded
called the Parodos.

SCENE ONE
(prologue)

In this act the protagonist repeats the
statement from the porlogue, a statement that is developed by him in his speech.  Then,
with the introduction of a new character, the plot turns.  In Oedipus Rex, the prophet
Iresisas's arrival and his revelations about the birth and life of Oedipus fufill this
purpose.  Here, too, the conflict begins. 

The importance
of prophecies and the qualities of an ideal ruler are also introduced in this act. 
Then, the exposition ends with an ode call Stasimon
I.

SCENE TWO

This act marks
the rise in the action of the play.  The longest act, this is divided into three
scenes: 

1. the confrontation between Oedipus and
   Creon,


2. the intervention by Jocasta and her efforts
   toward persuasion


3. the dialogue between Jocasta and
   Oedipus

The climax is suspended as this act
ends with a choral ode, the second Stasimon.

SCENE
THREE

The climax follows the second act of high action. 
All the questions raised in the previous act find their solutions in this act. The
mystery of Oedipus's ofe is solved and the play reaches its height and the tragedy is
complete.  In the fourth Stasimon, which ends the third scene, the chorus comments on
the fate of Oedipus.

SCENE FOUR
(exodus)

This scene presents the outcome of the tragedy. 
In this scene, the queen commits suicide and the desolate and devastated Oedipus blinds
himself.  Unlike the other acts, thes actions are not performed onstage; instead, they
are narrated by a messenger.

Finally, the blinded Oedipus
appears and alyrical dialogue between him and the Chorus is presented; this is a lament
on the situation.  After this lament, a long dialogue between Oedipus and Kreon
concludes the play as Oedipus, a broken man, departs as the citizens of Thebes look to
Kreon to find them an ideal king.