Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.
Exposition (Initial Situation)
An old, blind man comes to town...
Oedipus, fresh off of plucking his own eyes out, and his daughter Antigone walk into Athens after being kicked out of their hometown of Thebes. Oedipus gets the feeling that he’s on the sacred ground where Apollo prophesied he would find his final resting place. He is ready to rest after all he’s been through. And by rest, we mean die. They meet with the king, Theseus, and learn how to make an offering to the Furies, the turf bosses. Ismene, Oedipus’ other daughter, also shows up to help her dad.
Rising Action (Conflict, Complication)
Game of Thrones
Creon, Oedipus’ brother-in-law/uncle comes and tries to get Oedipus to come back to Thebes. It’s kind of weird, since he just kicked him out, but it’s because he knows Oedipus will die soon and he wants to be sure he’s buried in a place that won’t cause any more divine curses to come down on his city. When Oedipus refuses to go, Creon kidnaps Antigone and Ismene. Theseus gets the girls back just in time to see their brother, Polyneices, who wants Oedipus’ blessing before he goes to Thebes to fight their other brother over the throne. Oedipus curses him instead.
Climax (Crisis, Turning Point)
Goodbye, Eddie-Poo
It starts thundering, hailing, and lightning, so everybody knows something’s up. This is the sign that Apollo told Oedipus would mean sweet death is coming. Oedipus announces that he’s going to die, and, though he’s blind, leads an entourage out to a secret location where he will breathe his last breath. No seeing eye dogs here; he is led by divine wisdom. Or maybe sense of smell.
Falling Action
Swallowed Up
A messenger comes back and announces that, conveniently offstage, the earth has peacefully swallowed Oedipus up. The spot where he disappeared will be a source of secret power for Theseus and Athens. Score! Antigone and Ismene are sad about their dad’s death, understandably.
Resolution (Denouement)
Sibling Rivalry
Antigone and Ismene head back to Thebes to see about sorting out their brothers’ war over their father’s empty throne. Never a dull moment in this family. This sets us up for Antigone, the last play in the 'trilogy' that will (spoiler alert) not turn out any better than the other two plays.