Test Your Knowledge of Oedipus Rex
16 Questions
3 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What is the name of the play by Sophocles that is also known as Oedipus Tyrannus?

  • The Theban Cycle
  • Laius
  • Oedipus at Colonus (correct)
  • Antigone

    • What is the central theme of Oedipus Rex?

  • The importance of family
  • The power of prophecy (correct)
  • The dangers of love
  • The consequences of pride

    • What is a self-fulfilling prophecy?

  • A prophecy that is fulfilled by the actions of the person to whom it was given (correct)
  • A prophecy that is fulfilled by chance
  • A prophecy that is never fulfilled
  • A prophecy that is fulfilled by the actions of others

    • What is the name of the prophet who 'sees' the truth about Oedipus?

    <p>Tiresias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the opera-oratorio based on Oedipus Rex?

    <p>Oedipus Rex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Nigerian play and novel that is an adaptation of Oedipus Rex?

    <p>The Gods Are Not to Blame</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the ballet adaptation of Oedipus Rex that focuses on Jocasta?

    <p>Night Journey</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who parodies the story and music of Oedipus Rex in Oedipus Tex?

    <p>Peter Schickele</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the Greek term for the concept of hospitality, which Laius violated in Oedipus Rex?

    <p>Xenia</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the woman who becomes Oedipus's wife in Oedipus Rex?

    <p>Jocasta</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the prophet who reveals the truth to Oedipus in Oedipus Rex?

    <p>Tiresias</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the play by Sophocles that was written after Oedipus Rex, and is the last play in the Theban Cycle?

    <p>Oedipus at Colonus</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the opera-oratorio based on Oedipus Rex, with a libretto by Jean Cocteau?

    <p>Oedipus Tex</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the Nigerian play and novel that adapts the story of Oedipus Rex, with the title The Gods Are Not to Blame?

    <p>The Gods Are Not to Blame</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the comedic song about Oedipus Rex, written by Tom Lehrer in 1959?

    <p>Oedipus Wrecks</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the South Korean film adaptation of Oedipus Rex, directed by Park Chan-wook?

    <p>Oldboy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Oedipus Rex: Summary of the Greek Tragedy by Sophocles

    • Oedipus Rex is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles that was first performed around 429 BC.

    • The play is also known as Oedipus Tyrannus, which was added to distinguish it from another play by Sophocles called Oedipus at Colonus.

    • Of Sophocles' three Theban plays that have survived, Oedipus Rex was the second to be written, following Antigone by about a dozen years.

    • The play concerns Oedipus's search for the murderer of Laius, his father, in order to end a plague ravaging Thebes, unaware that the killer he is looking for is none other than himself.

    • The misfortunes of Thebes are believed to be the result of a curse laid upon Laius for violating the sacred laws of hospitality (Greek: xenia).

    • When Laius' son is born, he consults an oracle as to his fortune and is horrified to learn that he is "doomed to perish by the hand of his own son."

    • Oedipus fulfills this prophecy by killing Laius on the road to Thebes, not realizing that he is his father.

    • Upon arriving at Thebes, Oedipus solves the riddle of the Sphinx, freeing the city from her curse and earning the hand of Jocasta, his mother, in marriage.

    • Oedipus curses himself and fate when he discovers the truth, gouging out his own eyes in despair.

    • The play reflects the Greek mythic tradition, particularly the Theban Cycle, which chronicled the tragedies that befell the house of Laius.

    • The play took second prize in the City Dionysia at its original performance, but Aristotle later considered it to be the tragedy which best matched his prescription for how a tragedy should be constructed.

    • The play has been widely studied and adapted in literature and other media, influencing the development of Western drama.Analysis of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex

    • Oedipus Rex is considered one of the greatest plays, stories, and tragedies ever written.

    • The play is widely regarded as the fullest expression of the conception of tragedy as a revelation of the evil lot of man.

    • Fate, free will, and tragic flaw are central themes in the play.

    • The oracle delivered to Oedipus is what is often called a "self-fulfilling prophecy," whereby a prophecy itself sets in motion events that conclude with its own fulfilment.

    • While oracles exist to be fulfilled, oracles do not cause the events that lead up to the outcome.

    • Sophocles uses dramatic irony to present the downfall of Oedipus.

    • Literal and metaphorical references to eyesight appear throughout Oedipus Rex.

    • Clear vision serves as a metaphor for insight and knowledge, yet the clear-eyed Oedipus is blind to the truth about his origins and inadvertent crimes.

    • The prophet Tiresias, on the other hand, although literally blind, "sees" the truth and relays what is revealed to him.

    • Oedipus switches back and forth calling Laius a tyrant and a king throughout the duration of the play.

    • Sigmund Freud wrote a notable passage in Interpretation of Dreams regarding the destiny of Oedipus, as well as the Oedipus complex.

    • The Parsifal story is the "reverse" of the Oedipus myth.Adaptations and Parodies of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex

    • Sophocles' Oedipus Rex has been adapted into various forms including films, stage plays, operas, and radio dramas.

    • Notable film adaptations include Pier Paolo Pasolini's Edipo Re (1967) in Italy, Toshio Matsumoto's Funeral Parade of Roses (1969) in Japan, and Park Chan-wook's Oldboy (2003) in South Korea.

    • Gabriel García Márquez adapted the story into Edipo Alcalde, reflecting the real-world situation of Colombia at the time.

    • The composer Igor Stravinsky wrote the opera-oratorio Oedipus Rex, which premiered in 1927 in Paris, with a French libretto by Jean Cocteau and narration performed in the language of the audience.

    • Nigerian writer Ola Rotimi adapted Oedipus Rex into a play and novel, titled The Gods Are Not to Blame (1968), which was further adapted by Otun Rasheed in 2012.

    • Dancer and choreographer Martha Graham adapted Oedipus Rex into a ballet entitled Night Journey (1947) focusing on Jocasta.

    • Don Taylor's 1986 BBC television adaptation of Oedipus Rex, titled Oedipus the King, starred Michael Pennington, John Gielgud, and Claire Bloom.

    • Other notable television portrayals of Oedipus include Christopher Plummer (1957), Ian Holm (1972), and Patrick Stewart (1977).

    • Peter Schickele parodies the story and music of Oedipus Rex in Oedipus Tex (1990) as P.D.Q. Bach.

    • Chrysanthos Mentis Bostantzoglou parodies the tragedy in his comedy Medea (1993).

    • Tom Lehrer wrote a comedic song based on Oedipus Rex in 1959.

    • Bo Burnham references Oedipus in songs Words Words Words and Rant on his album, Words Words Words.

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Think you know everything about Sophocles' classic Greek tragedy, Oedipus Rex? Test your knowledge with our quiz and see if you can answer questions about the plot, themes, and adaptations of this timeless masterpiece. From the prophecy that sets the events in motion to the adaptations and parodies it has inspired, this quiz covers everything you need to know about Oedipus Rex. So, put on your thinking cap and dive into the world of Greek tragedy!

    More Like This

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser