Oedipus Rex Part 2

"I who saw your days call no man blest - Your great days like ghosts gone" (Sophocles 1135 - 1136) . . .identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Chorus To whom: Oedipus/audience Context: At this point, Oedipus finally realizes that the prophecy is true and the Chorus is saying that during his "great days" of defeating the Sphinx and becoming the ruler of Thebes, everyone envied him and wanted to be him. But, in the end, after his prophecy came true, the people realize that they would not want to be in his place after all and they were disgusted by what he had done. Literary device: Simile - "your great days like ghosts gone" - comparing Oedipus's great days to ghosts; ghosts are fleeting, not always there → shows how his happiness was just a mirage

"Our hearts are heavy with fear when we see our leader distracted as helpless sailors are terrified by the confusion of their helmsman" (Sophocles 877 - 878)...identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Jocasta To whom the quote is directed to: People of Thebes Context of Quote: Jocasta is describing how the people of Thebes are "as helpless sailors" watching in fear as their leader/helmsman is distracted and confused. This simile implies that Oedipus's rule greatly influences the people of Thebes; how Oedipus is their captain and is steering them metaphorically to trouble, if Oedipus is unwell then the people of Thebes will be unwell Literary devices employed: Simile, extended metaphor throughout the drama

"I wish her happiness in a happy house. Blest in all her fulfillment of marriage" (Sophocles 884 - 885). .identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Messenger To whom: Jocasta Context: The messenger is bringing the news of Polybus's death, he knows that the truth will soon be revealed, he greets Jocasta. Literary devices: Dramatic irony - the messenger knows that Jocasta's marriage isn't fulfilled because she married her son, though Jocasta doesn't know this yet but we know. Prior to the resolution that they had lived a seemingly blessed life, known that everything prior was a lie

does Jocasta want oedipus to continue investigating the truth from the Shepard and what actually happened to him during his childhood?

no, she wants oedipus to forget about it

swollen feet

oedipus

chorus

represents the common people of Thebes, reacts to what happens on stage

second messenger

servant of Oedipus and Jocasta, delivers the message of Jocasta's suicide and Oedipus's blinding

who tries to comfort oedipus in the beginning of scene 2 and 3? why?

Jocasta because she wants to persuade him to believe that the prophecy is not true and she doesn't care if it is true.

jocasta

Oedipus's wife, mother and Creon's sister, the peacemaker between Oedipus and Creon, hanged herself, does not believe the prophecy, preparing an offering to Apollo

"He brought me my sick, sick fate upon me. But the blinding was my own! How could I bear to see when all my sight was horror everywhere?" (Sophocles 1287 - 1290)....identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Oedipus To whom the quote is directed to: Choragos Context of Quote: Oedipus is stating that Apollo cursed him with his prophecy of marrying his mother and killing his father; Apollo destined Oedipus's fate. However, it was Oedipus's free will which caused his own blinding; his pride caused him to believe that he could control his own fate. Literary devices employed: Theme; free will vs. fate Symbolism; Apollo is responsible for Oedipus's fate while Oedipus causes his own blindness through free will. Oedipus's hamartia is that he thought he could control his own fate even though he couldn't because of his excessive pride or hubris. Irony; Oedipus's metaphorical blinding becomes literal. While Oedipus tries to control his fate, he fulfills the prophecy.

"O three roads, dark ravine, woodland and way where the three roads met: you drinking my father's blood. My own blood, spilled by my own hand: can you remember the unspeakable things I did there, and the things I went on from there to do?" (Sophocles 1346 - 1351)....identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Oedipus To whom the quote is directed to: Choragos Context of Quote: Oedipus realized and talks about his terrible actions, his killing his father and all of his subsequent actions evils. Literary devices employed: Personification - "O three roads, dark ravine, woodland and way where the three roads met: you drinking my father's blood. My own blood, spilled by my own hand" (Sophocles 1346 - 1349). Oedipus personifies the three roads, dark ravine, woodland and way, saying that they drank his father's blood after Oedupus killed him.

"He struck at his eyes - not once, but many times; and the blood spattered his beard, bursting from his ruined sockets like red hail" (Sophocles 1226 - 1228).....identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Second Messenger To Whom: Choragos Literary Device: simile-"blood spattered his beard, bursting from his ruined sockets like red hail" comparing the blood to hail falling from his sockets Context: The second messenger is telling everyone that Oedipus has blinded himself. And the hail represents the destruction that was caused.

"No more shall you look on the misery about me. The horrors of my own doing! Too long you have known of those faces of those whom I should have never seen, too long been blind to those for whom I was searching! From this hour, go in darkness!" (Sophocles 1220 - 1225) . . .identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Second Messenger To whom: Choragos Context of Quote: The second messenger is quoting Oedipus's words as to what Oedipus was explaining as to why he had to gouge his eyes, (this messenger brings news of what Oedipus has done), Oedipus can't bear to see that he has killed his father and married his mother fulfilling his prophecy, therefore, he had to lose his vision. Literary devices: irony - Oedipus's metaphorical blinding became true

"'But your savior, son, that day.' 'From what did you save me?' 'Your ankles should tell you that'" (Sophocles 976 - 978)....identify speaker, whom the quote is directed to, context, and lit devices

Speaker: Shepherd To whom: Oedipus Context: Oedipus calls for the messenger who is the Shepherd who brought baby Oedipus to Polybus and Merope. He explains that he was going to be left to die, but he saved him from that and sent away from Thebes. Literary Device: It is situational irony because the lowly poor Shepherd is the savior to once a great king and that because of saving him, Oedipus is able to fulfill the prophecy. Also, when the shepherd calls Oedipus son, it is like he is the father of Oedipus's fate since he was the one who saved him from his death.

lauis

actual father of oedipus, killed by oedipus

polybus

adoptive father of Oedipus; King of Corinth; dies of old age

merope

adoptive mother of Oedipus

what are Oedipus's childrens' names?

antigone and ismene

oedipus

became King of Thebes by solving the riddle of the Sphinx, fulfilled the prophecy, put his kingdom at risk, blinds himself so he cannot see his parents in his afterlife, tragic hero, hubris( thought he could control fate) said he is cursed 3 times

why did the shepard save the baby from mount cithaeron?

because he pitied the baby

Terisiais

blind soothsayer, tells Oedipus the prophecy that he will kill his father and marry his mother, is accused of treachery

creon

comforts Oedipus when he hears the truth from Teiresias that the prophecy is false, Oedipus's brother-in-law, Jocasta's brother, accused of treason, offers to take care of the girls after Oedipus is exiled, compassionate, new king of Thebes

how did polybus die

from natural causes and old age

why did polybus adopt oedipus

he had no children of his own

what is the significance of the shepard?

he was the only witness of the killing of Lauis and the shepard who was supposed to leave oedipus on the mountain to die but had pity

what is the irony of when the shepard is being questioned by oedipus and he doesn't want to say the truth because he would be worse than dead if he did so?

if he doesn't say the truth oedipus will kill him, if he says the truth he doesn't know what will happen to him

antigone

incestral daughter of oedipus and jocasta

ismene

incestral daughter of oedipus and jocasta

what is shown about how jocasta trys to stop Oedipus's investigation?

it shows that she finally acknowledges the prophecy

who are oedipus's real parents?

jocasta and lauis

apollo

the god of prophecy, healing, poetry, and more; tells Laius that he will be killed by his own son, fates Oedipus to fulfill the prophecy

chorgos

the voice of reason throughout the tragedy, one who comforts Oedipus as he leaves the stage

shepherd

took pity on baby Oedipus and saved him from dying on the side of the mountain, had delivered him to the current messenger; very reluctant to tell Oedipus the truth, witnessed the murdering of Lauis

messenger

was sent from Corinth to tell Jocasta that the people of Isthmus wanted Oedipus to be their king because Polybus was dead, gives Jocasta credence that the prophecy was wrong, also the shepherd WHO RECEIVED baby Oedipus from Laius's shepard

what is ironic about Oedipus controlling his fate?

while trying to control his fate, he fulfilled his prophecy