12 Questions
What quality leads to the undoing of the tragic hero?
Hubris
What is the paradox at the heart of Oedipus Rex?
A leader must solve a problem but will be ruined by doing so
What did the Delphic oracle reveal to Oedipus about his fate?
He is fated to kill his father and marry his mother
What riddle does the Sphinx present to all visitors to Thebes?
What goes on four feet in the morning, two at noon, and three in the evening?
What does Oedipus believe he can do in relation to his fate?
Outrun his fate
What is the main problem in Thebes when Oedipus becomes king?
Plague
How does Oedipus answer the riddle of the Sphinx?
A human
What task does Oedipus assign to his brother-in-law, Creon?
Seek help from the gods at Delphi
What demand does Apollo make through the oracle at Delphi?
Find and expel the murderer of the previous king
How does Oedipus respond to Creon's report about Apollo's demand?
"You cannot solve this ancient crime./ I will turn Thebes upside down"
"I solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and so I will solve this once again (iterum)." This statement by Oedipus reveals his:
Self-confidence and arrogance
Who does Tiresias assert is the murderer according to the text?
"The king's murderer is a king"
Study Notes
Tragic Hero
- The quality that leads to the undoing of the tragic hero is hubris or excessive pride.
Oedipus Rex
- The paradox at the heart of Oedipus Rex is the conflict between fate and free will.
Oedipus' Fate
- The Delphic oracle reveals to Oedipus that he will kill his father and marry his mother.
- Oedipus believes he can escape his fate through his own actions and decisions.
The Sphinx's Riddle
- The Sphinx presents the riddle "What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?" to all visitors to Thebes.
- Oedipus answers the riddle correctly, stating that the answer is man, who crawls on all fours as an infant, walks on two legs as an adult, and uses a cane in old age.
Thebes and Oedipus
- The main problem in Thebes when Oedipus becomes king is the plague that has afflicted the city.
- Oedipus assigns his brother-in-law, Creon, the task of consulting the oracle at Delphi to discover the cause of the plague.
- Apollo demands through the oracle that the murderer of Laius be found and punished to end the plague.
Tiresias' Accusation
- Tiresias asserts that Oedipus is the murderer, which Oedipus denies and refuses to believe.
Oedipus' Confidence
- Oedipus' statement "I solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and so I will solve this once again" reveals his confidence and overreliance on his own abilities.
Explore the paradox of Oedipus as the leader who must solve the city's crisis but is doomed by his own qualities. Delve into the traits that make him both effective and ultimately ruinous, reflecting the predicament of the tragic hero in this classic Greek tale.
Make Your Own Quizzes and Flashcards
Convert your notes into interactive study material.
Get started for free
