Oedipus the King by Sophocles
"Oedipus the King" is a tragic play that revolves around the life of Oedipus, the king of Thebes, who is prophesied to kill his father and marry his mother. Despite his attempts to avoid this fate, Oedipus unknowingly fulfills the prophecy. When he discovers the truth about his actions, he blinds himself in despair. The play explores themes of fate, free will, and the quest for truth, highlighting the tragic consequences of human hubris and ignorance.
The 76th greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
Total Points: 2347
This book was first published in -429
25 Lists
- score: 150 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature - 2002 (Weight: 150)
- score: 144 -- Top 100 World Literature Titles - 2017 (Weight: 138)
- score: 143 -- The 100 Best Books of World Literature - 2018 (Weight: 138)
- score: 138 -- Världsbiblioteket (The World Library) - 1991 (Weight: 138)
- score: 129 -- Pour une Bibliothèque Idéale - 1956 (Weight: 126)
- score: 114 -- 50 Greatest Books of All Time - 2008 (Weight: 114)
- score: 112 -- Six Professors from "Esteemed" Universities Favorite Books - 1982 (Weight: 102)
- score: 104 -- The 16 Greatest Books of All Time - 2008 (Weight: 99)
- score: 102 -- Best Books Listed for High School Students - 1984 (Weight: 102)
- score: 99 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan - 1999 (Weight: 99)
- score: 96 -- 100 Essential Books - 2009 (Weight: 93)
- score: 96 -- 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die - 2024 (Weight: 90)
- score: 93 -- Masterpieces of World Literature - 1991 (Weight: 93)
- score: 86 -- 100 Best Books - 2010 (Weight: 84)
- score: 81 -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List - 2003 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books - 2013 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics - 2001 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- Books That Changed the World - 2004 (Weight: 81)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 78)
- score: 75 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 75)
- score: 69 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers - 2002 (Weight: 69)
- score: 57 -- The 100 Greatest Books Ever Written - 1979 (Weight: 57)
- score: 51 -- Great Books of the Western World - 1990 (Weight: 51)
- score: 48 -- The 50 Best Plays of All Time - 2017 (Weight: 45)
- score: 34 -- From Oedipus to The History Boys: Michael Billington's 101 greatest plays - 2015 (Weight: 33)