Oedipus Rex Review Questions PDF

Oedipus Rex Review Questions Prologue and Parados 1. Where does the play take place? 2. A playwright very carefully introduces a play. Why might Sophocles have selected this character to introduce the play? 3. What attitude does Oedipus assume toward the supplicants seeking his h...

Oedipus Rex Review Questions Prologue and Parados 1. Where does the play take place? 2. A playwright very carefully introduces a play. Why might Sophocles have selected this character to introduce the play? 3. What attitude does Oedipus assume toward the supplicants seeking his help? 4. What deities are mentioned in the prologue? Why are they included? 5. What message does Creon bring from Delphi? 6. What single clue about the murder of King Laius is revealed by Creon? 7. What does Oedipus think about this clue? What might this perception foreshadow? 8. In strophe 1 of the parados, what does the chorus ask? In antistrophe 1, to which divinities does the chorus appeal? 9. In strophe 2 and antistrophe 2, the chorus bewails its situation in Thebes. Describe the condition of the people as the play begins. Episode 1 and Ode I 1. How does Sophocles connect the parados to the first episode? 2. What does Oedipus think was unlucky about Laius’ fatherhood? What actually was unlucky about it? 3. Who is the choral leader and what is his role in scene 1? 4. What might be suggested by the fact that Oedipus had to send twice for Teiresias? 5. At his entrance, how is Teiresias described by the choragus? What audience attitude should this description establish? 6. What methods of augury (fortune telling) are mentioned? 7. What comparison does Oedipus make between himself and seers like Teiresias? What does this tell us about Oedipus? 8. When the choragus intercedes in the argument of Oedipus and Teiresias, of what does he remind Oedipus? 9. As Ode I begins, about what does the chorus remind the audience? 10. With whom does the chorus finally side, Oedipus or Teiresias? Why do you suppose Sophocles has the chorus voice this opinion? Episode 2 and Ode 2 1. Why is it significant that Creon appears without Oedipus as scene 2 opens? 2. What character trait of Oedipus is revealed by the fact that Oedipus accuses Creon of treason without first hearing his side? 3. What rational argument does Creon use to convince Oedipus that he has no designs on the throne of Thebes? 4. When the argument between Oedipus and Creon breaks into an irrational yelling match, who intercedes to remind them of their responsibility to act rationally? How is this scene reminiscent of scene 1? 5. What seems to be the role of the choragus? In responding to the choragus, what evidence of hubris, or self-will, do we see in Oedipus? 6. Why does Oedipus release Creon? 7. Hamartia is the mistake or error committed by a tragic character which in part accounts for the ensuing misfortunes. What is Oedipus’ hamartia? 8. What value does the chorus repeatedly uphold? 9. What warning does the chorus voice in the second ode? What might this warning foreshadow? 10. What worry does the chorus express just before Jocasta comes in? Episode Three and Ode 3 1. Identify the irony in Jocasta’s actions at the beginning of epsisode 3. 2. What analogy does Jocasta use to describe Oedipus’ responsibilities as king of Thebes? 3. Describe the entrance of the messenger from Corinth. What message does he bring? 4. How do Jocasta and Oedipus react to the news? 5. What aspect of the oracle’s prophecy still troubles Oedipus? 6. What additional information does the messenger reveal? 7. Why does Jocasta try to prevent Oedipus from questioning the messenger? 8. To whom or what is the third ode addressed? 9. What does the chorus want to know? 10. Why might the chorus mention the particular gods they do in the ode? Oedipus Scene 4 and Exodus 1. What does the shepherd reveal? 2. What three terrible things, unspeakable and unforgivable in ancient Greek society, as Oedipus done? 3. What is the meaning of Oedipus’ statement at the end of scene 4? 4. What does the chorus say in the final ode? 5. How did Oedipus blind himself? What is the significance of this? 6. Who is to rule Thebes now that Oedipus must go into exile? 7. What future does Oedipus predict for his daughters? Why would the audience believe the prediction will become reality? 8. How does Creon exert his authority at the end of the play?