Conflict begins to be worked out and tensions lessen.
Explains things that happened before the
story began
Occurs after the climax.
Often provides background information on
characters
Reveals the point of view
The plot begins to complicate and twist
Exposition
Rising Action
Falling Action

What is the significance of the above statement in relation to the play’s conclusion? oedipus treats his inferiors poorly but ultimately grants them the same respect he grants to nobility. while teiresias appears to be mocking oedipus, the real message is one of warning about the forces working against the king. oedipus earns great fame for answering the riddle of the sphinx but ultimately loses his crown to a common man. just as oedipus is unable to conceive that he has done wrong in the past, he is unable to imagine that his enviable position is impermanent.