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Questions and Answers
What initial crisis prompts the priests to seek help from Oedipus at the beginning of the play?
What initial crisis prompts the priests to seek help from Oedipus at the beginning of the play?
- The oracle of Apollo has been desecrated.
- Creon has secretly left Thebes and they are unsure of his whereabouts.
- A political uprising threatens to overthrow Oedipus.
- Thebes is afflicted by a devastating plague, crop failure, and high infant mortality. (correct)
Why did the people of Thebes make Oedipus their king and allow him to marry the widowed queen, Jocasta?
Why did the people of Thebes make Oedipus their king and allow him to marry the widowed queen, Jocasta?
- Oedipus saved Thebes from the Sphinx, earning him the throne and the queen's hand. (correct)
- Oedipus was appointed king by the oracle of Delphi.
- Oedipus was the only remaining member of the royal family of Thebes.
- Oedipus promised to restore the city's economy.
What does the oracle of Apollo reveal to Creon regarding the plague in Thebes?
What does the oracle of Apollo reveal to Creon regarding the plague in Thebes?
- The plague is caused by the gods' displeasure with Thebes's prosperity.
- The plague will lift only when the murderer of Laius is found and punished. (correct)
- The plague is a result of Oedipus's corrupt rule.
- The plague will only end when Thebes offers a sacrifice to appease Apollo.
How does Oedipus react upon hearing the oracle's message brought by Creon?
How does Oedipus react upon hearing the oracle's message brought by Creon?
What does Oedipus command the people of Thebes to do regarding the death of Laius?
What does Oedipus command the people of Thebes to do regarding the death of Laius?
Why does Oedipus summon Tiresias, the blind prophet?
Why does Oedipus summon Tiresias, the blind prophet?
What accusation does Oedipus make against Tiresias when the prophet refuses to speak?
What accusation does Oedipus make against Tiresias when the prophet refuses to speak?
What does Tiresias reveal about Oedipus's role in the plague?
What does Tiresias reveal about Oedipus's role in the plague?
Why does Oedipus accuse both Tiresias and Creon of conspiring against him?
Why does Oedipus accuse both Tiresias and Creon of conspiring against him?
What does Jocasta say to try and reassure Oedipus during the conflict with Creon and Tiresias?
What does Jocasta say to try and reassure Oedipus during the conflict with Creon and Tiresias?
What detail from Jocasta's story about Laius's death troubles Oedipus?
What detail from Jocasta's story about Laius's death troubles Oedipus?
Why did Oedipus leave Corinth, the city where he was raised?
Why did Oedipus leave Corinth, the city where he was raised?
What news does the messenger from Corinth bring to Oedipus?
What news does the messenger from Corinth bring to Oedipus?
What revelation does the messenger make about Oedipus's true parentage?
What revelation does the messenger make about Oedipus's true parentage?
Who originally gave the infant Oedipus to the messenger?
Who originally gave the infant Oedipus to the messenger?
Why does Jocasta beg Oedipus to stop his search for his origins?
Why does Jocasta beg Oedipus to stop his search for his origins?
Under what condition does the shepherd reveal the truth about Oedipus's birth?
Under what condition does the shepherd reveal the truth about Oedipus's birth?
What does Oedipus realize upon hearing the shepherd's revelation?
What does Oedipus realize upon hearing the shepherd's revelation?
What actions do Jocasta and Oedipus take upon learning the full truth of their relationship?
What actions do Jocasta and Oedipus take upon learning the full truth of their relationship?
What is Oedipus's ultimate fate at the end of the play?
What is Oedipus's ultimate fate at the end of the play?
Flashcards
Thebes
Thebes
The city where Oedipus is king at the beginning of the play, suffering from plague and misfortune.
Creon
Creon
Oedipus sends him to the oracle of Apollo to find out how to save Thebes from the plague.
Oracle of Apollo
Oracle of Apollo
The oracle consulted by Creon to determine the cause of Thebes' suffering.
Laius
Laius
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Jocasta
Jocasta
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Tiresias
Tiresias
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Oedipus's Prophecy
Oedipus's Prophecy
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Corinth
Corinth
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Polybus
Polybus
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The Messenger from Corinth
The Messenger from Corinth
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The Shepherd
The Shepherd
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Gouging Out Eyes
Gouging Out Eyes
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Exile
Exile
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Study Notes
- The play begins with Thebes in crisis, its people afflicted by plague and other misfortunes.
- The citizens seek help from King Oedipus, who previously saved them from the Sphinx.
- Creon, Oedipus's brother-in-law returns from the oracle of Apollo with news that to end the plague, Laius's murderer must be found and punished, and is still in Thebes.
- Oedipus vows to find Laius's murderer and bring them to justice.
- He encourages anyone with information about Laius's death to come forward under penalty of exile.
- Oedipus summons the blind prophet Tiresias for assistance.
- At first, Tiresias refuses to speak.
- Oedipus accuses Tiresias of involvement in Laius's murder.
- Tiresias declares Oedipus is the cause of the plague and the murderer of Laius.
- Oedipus accuses both Tiresias and Creon of plotting against him.
- Tiresias hints at Oedipus's other terrible deeds.
- Oedipus threatens to banish or execute Creon, believing he is a traitor.
- Jocasta and the chorus believe in Creon's innocence and plead for his life, to which Oedipus reluctantly agrees.
- Jocasta dismisses the validity of prophecies, mentioning a prophecy saying Laius would be killed by her son, however she believes Laius was killed by strangers and her infant son was left to die.
- Jocasta describing the location of Laius's murder, a triple-crossroad makes Oedipus concerned as he recalls killing a man there.
- Oedipus asks for the surviving eyewitness to Laius's murder to be brought forth.
- Oedipus reveals he received a prophecy that he would kill his father and sleep with his mother, so he fled Corinth.
- A messenger arrives from Corinth announcing the death of King Polybus, Oedipus's father.
- Oedipus is relieved by the news that his "father" is dead, lessening his worry about the prophecy, Oedipus still fears his mother is alive.
- The messenger reveals Oedipus was not the biological son of the King and Queen of Corinth.
- He shares that he received Oedipus as a baby from a shepherd who found him in the mountains.
- The shepherd is the same man who witnessed Laius's murder.
- Jocasta begs Oedipus to stop trying to find the truth of his birth.
- Oedipus insists on uncovering his origins.
- The shepherd admits he spared the infant son of Laius and Jocasta, giving him to the messenger instead.
- Oedipus realizes he is the son of Laius and Jocasta, and he has fulfilled the prophecy.
- Jocasta commits suicide as a result of the revelation.
- Oedipus blinds himself in a fit of despair.
- Oedipus is now blind and laments his destiny.
- Creon consults an oracle and then grants Oedipus's wish to be banished from Thebes.
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