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Oedipus Rex (woe of mankind): *
Aristotle (in Poetics) refers to it several times to exemplify aspects of the genre. Prior to the start of the play Oedipus has become the king of Thebes unwittingly fulfilling a prophecy that he would kill his father, Laius (the previous king) & marry his mother, Jocasta (whom Oedipus took as his queen after solving the riddle of the Sphinx). The tragedy concerns Oedipus's search for the murderer of Laius in order to end the plague ravaging Thebes; he is unaware that he is himself the killer. At the end the truth finally emerges, Jocasta hangs herself, Oedipus, horrified, gouges out his eyes in despair.
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Aristotle (Poetics): *
Poetry for Aristotle included lyric & epic poetry as well as verse drama (comedy, tragedy & satyr plays). All are similar in the sense they are imitations. Each is distinct as they differ regarding:
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music rhythm, harmony, meter & melody
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the goodness in the characters
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how the narrative is presented (narrative or acted out)
His "first principles" are based on: 1) imitation and 2) genres & other concepts thru which of truth is revealed in the work. His analysis of tragedy constitutes the core of the discussion. Universally acknowledged in the Western critical tradition (recovered in Middle Ages via an Arabic version).