There are many levels of pain, some of which are discomfort, grief, and agony. In his poem "Oedipus", Thomas Blackburn uses diction, imagery, and organization to create a tone of suffering that truly exemplifies pain at its greatest, as well as a tone of feebleness and impotence.
<Tab/>From the beginning of the poem, Blackburn's diction suggests Oedipus's immorality and wretchedness. For example, Oedipus's shadow is "monstrous", representing his horrific past and future as a monster. However, Oedipus is soon transformed into a powerless and blind being. The poem describes…
