An Ode to the Gods

Is tragedy a noble curse?

Don’t the gods have any remorse?

What father wishes to kill his son?

For a prophecy only told at once

Is fate really a thing or

Are the gods just having fun?

Do the gods look down on us?

Smiling at all our becoming

The irony of it all

Is that Oedipus seem to have befell

To the murder of his father---

The husband of his lover slash mother

At a party, young Oedipus overheard

He may have been given away at birth

Questions filled his heart

So he fled to find his real mom and dad

Alas! He was told the prophecy

To which he shrugged his shoulders and said “ideocracy!”

But the rumors were true

The hero is a murderer, and incestuous, too!

Which brings me to the question:

When the gods decide, do they think about it?

Is fate nothing but a plot twist?

And when lives are broken down

When heroes fall down

What do we make of that mighty crown?

Note that as you make your essay about the poem, you can make your own title
if you want by the way, remember that the poem is more of a questioning to the
gods. We know how Greek plays especially Greek tragedies revolve around the
gods and how fate as they decree it is inevitable. I want you to discuss this in
your essay.

So here’s the outline:

I. Introduction

Here, in two paragraphs, discuss briefly about Greek tragedies as a

whole. Discuss how the gods seem to shape people’s lives through
fate. Now tragedies only apply to heroes.

For me, I think Oedipus is the perfect tragedy. His rise and fall. How he
tries to deny the truth in the prophecies and all that.

II. Body

For the essays details, talk about how you oppose to the idea of fate. I
think the poem is against the idea of the gods intervening with
people’s lives. Explain how we as modern people do not believe in this.
Maybe not necessarily not believe, but we have the belief that we can
always change our lives.

Talk about how the poem is written. This is written in a modern

language. My idea is that young students do not seem to read old
plays anymore because of the language use. Now, this poem talks
about a very old play in a very simplistic and straightforward manner.
Discuss how this helps to a better understanding and appreciation of
the play.

Maybe you could also talk about how important life is and how the
gods seem to just play with it. Talk about a particular theme you like in
Oedipus.

III. Conclusion
In one paragraph, summarize your points. Just recap on the most
important things about the poem and your essay.