OEDIPUS REX Plot

Exposition:
The city of Thebes is beset by a plague that is killing all the plants in the fields and the babies in their mothers’ womb. It is threatening Thebes' existence. The Delphic Oracle advises that in order to get rid of the plague, the murderer of its past king, Laius, be cast out of Thebes.

Conflict:
Teiresias, the blind prophet called to reveal the identity of Laius’ murderer names the king, Oedipus, as Laius’ murderer. This angers Oedipus and he becomes determined to inquire and know the identity of Laius’ murderer. There is man versus man conflict between Oedipus and Teiresias. When Oedipus also accuses Creon of conspiring with Teiresias to bring him down as king of Thebes, another man versus man conflict arises.

However, the more prominent conflicts in the story are Oedipus’ battle against his fate and his own pride. The man versus nature conflict between Oedipus and his fate is played out from his birth, running away from Corinth to “escape” his fate only to be lead to killing Laius and marrying Jocasta. Oedipus also plays out a man versus himself conflict when his pride causes him to irrationally accuse Teiresias and Creon of conspiring against him. More importantly, his pride and belief that he can save Thebes again leads him to self-destruction when his careful and exhaustive inquiry reveals his parentage and his crimes of parricide and incest.

Climax:
The messenger from Corinth reveals Oedipus’ true identity. The herdsman further reveals Oedipus’ parentage. The truth that the twice prophesized Oedipus’ murder of his own father and marriage to his own mother has indeed come to pass. As a result of these revelations, Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself.

Dénouement:
Oedipus asks Creon to exile him from Thebes and to take care of his daughters. Oedipus leaves Thebes.

RENE LIZADA's Papa's Table

Rene Lizada spent most of his adult life sharing knowledge and wisdom as an English teacher at a local high school. But after years of teaching, he is now living the corporate life. He also conducts workshops and seminars for budding writers and is an active member to Toastmasters.

Lizada writes a column entitled "Papa's Table" for the Sunstar Davao. In his column, he shares serious and funny life experiences, anecdotes, lessons and other musings. He often narrates stories about his wife and his kids. His eldest, Miguel Lizada, also has a column at the same newspaper, entitled "Kuya's Table."

The older Lizada's topics vary, but his entries are always hearfelt and well-written. His column should be read, not only for the sake of reading, but to learn, as well. Not only the lessons his explicitly shares but also his impeccable command of the English language. Although he rarely uses highfalutin words, he always manages to capture through his words, his experiences, reactions and emotions.

Papa's Table is usually published in the Sunstar Davao Newspaper and Website every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Jerusha C. Asprec: THE NUTTY PROFESSOR!

Nope, this is not about the movie. This Nutty Professor is Jerusha C. Asprec. Jerusha is a writer, a professor and blogger.

She prefers to define herself as a...

"Middle child, only girl * Young face, old soul * Outsider, looking in * Adventurer * Weirdo * Caffeine addict * An insomniac who can sleep like a log * Popcorn devourer * Knuckle cracker * Lyrics expert * Soup and pasta cook * Occasional klutz * Part-time professor, part-time grad student, FULL-TIME NUT CASE * Extreme thinker * Big-time dreamer * Crazy over childhood candies * Lover of the rain * Forever nostalgic * In the world, but not of the world * A certified radical for JESUS."

In her blog, The Nutty Professor!, she writes about her fulfilling, but frustrating and sometimes funny experiences as a professor.

Pablo Neruda's TONIGHT I CAN WRITE

TONIGHT I CAN WRITE
by Pablo Neruda

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
Write, for example, "The night is shattered
And blue stars shiver in the distance."

The night wind revolves in the sky and sings.
Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
I loved her, and sometimes she loved me too.
Through the nights like this one I held her in my arms.
I kissed her over and over again under the endless sky.

She loved me, sometimes I did love her too.
How could I not have loved her great eyes.

Tonight I can write the saddest lines.
To think that I do not have her. To feel that I have lost her.
To hear the immense night, still more immense without her.
And the verse falls to the soul like dew to the pasture.

What does it matter if my love could not keep her.
The night is shattered and she is not with me.

This is all. In the distance someone is singing. In the distance.
My soul is not satisfied because it has lost her.

Robert Frost's Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening

Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening
Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.

My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.