Oedipus Worksheet fill in the blank

Luckily, ______ overhears the quarrel and breaks up the ruckus. But before doing so, Oedipus has threatened ______ life. She bids her _____ to leave and persuades her ______ to stop his line of questioning.

Jocasta, Creon's, Brother, Husband.

Provide the correct ordering of events form Jocastas entering the palace.

She rushes to the bedrooms, curses her marriage bed, hangs herself by the belt of a dress.

catharsis

cleaning of emotions, reestablishment of the "norm" after discovering quiet.

The only living witness is _____________ who now lives as a __________

A former palace servant, shepherd.

Why does the messenger know everything firsthand?

Because he gave Oedipus to Polybos.

Oedipus also discovers hat the culprit could be close at hand. When the _______ reminds Oedipus of the former king's death they tell the story of how the death occurred:______________

Chorus, Laios was killed by bandits at a crossroads.

A messenger arrives from _________, bearing ________ news.

Corinth, good/bad.

He sends his brother in law ______ to the ______ for advice.

Creon, Oracle.

Oedipus then charges both _____ and ______ with a crime by deducing that _____ must be in fact the _______

Creon, Tiresias, both, culprit/murderer

______ does not appreciate what he has been called and comes to the _____

Creon, palace.

What happens to the king?

He runs after her and stabs his eyes out.

What happens to the queen?

He runs into he palace and kills herself

He argues that he is not guilty. He is loyal to his sister ______ and dislikes _______.

Jocasta, Power.

what mysterious are there in the family tree that resurface in Oedipus; life?

Killing of children, drunken orgies, suicide.

Jocasta tells what she knows:________________________

Laios was killed by bandits at a crosroads.

What are the characteristics of the tragic hero?

Makes mistake (pride), learns from it.

What is the Chorus' final chant?

Nobody is happy until death.

What do you suppose is the central message/issue?

Obey the gods;beware your pride.

Who is the tragic hero?

Oedipus

What does Oedipus confess?

Oedipus confesses that he was fated to kill his father and marry his mother.

Why does Oedipus grow happy?

Oedipus grows happy because he realizes he did not kill his alleged father.

What relevance does this tragedy have for today?

Our identities are a mystery because past/heritage is not clear. We are proud and emotions often drive us.

_____________ has died and the people want ____________

Polybos, Oedipus to be their king.

There is hope for Oedipus because of what account in the story?

That multiple bandits killed Laios.

What does the messenger disclose?

The messenger discloses that Polybos his not his father.

When the shepherd arrives, he remembers everything at the help of ____________

The messenger.

Who had passed the child on? and Why?

The shepherd because he wanted to save the baby from death as he was supposed to kill him.

Oedipus commands that _______ be brought before him, even though Jocasta begs him to _________. This signals Oedipus' pride.

The shepherd, stop questioning

What function do the Chorus and Senator play?

Thye provide the necessary background of the storyline, religious element, help stir the emotions, help establish storyline.

They also suggest that the one person who might know is, __________

Tiresias, a blind prophet.

Upon his return, Oedipus' brother-in-law tells Oedipus exactly what he must do to end this problem. He must _______

find Laios' murderer.

hamartia

flaw

hubris

flaw of pride

Oedipus is upset that his city has been besieged by a ______

plage

This he does not mind doing because he, Oedipus, had helped the city before when he ___________.

solved the riddle of the sphinx.

discovery

that point when a person realizes guilt.

When he begs not to talk to Oedipus. Oedipus charges him with _______

treason.

If the two central emotions evoked in all Greek tragedies are pity and fear how do these emotions come to play in these two works?

we fear Oedipus fate could be ours. We pity Oedipus because he did everything he could to prevent his fate.

When he finally does speak, he warns Oedipus: ______________

you might be the murderer.