Oedipus Rex Study Guide

What final advice does a Creon give Oedipus?

"Do not seek to be master in everything, for the things you mastered did not follow you throughout your life."

What is the riddle? Who solves it?

"What is it that goes on four legs in the morning, two at midday, and three in the evening?" Oedipus solves it

According to the Chorus, what is man's pattern? What do they mean?

"Wins more of happiness than a seeming after that turning away"

What is terrorizing Thebes? Why?

A sphinx b/c no one could solve the riddle

According to the chorus, what kind of man does "heaven never tips to fall"?

A tyrant

What happens on Oedipus' journey to Thebes?

An old man whips him and tells him to get out of the way, so out of anger Oedipus kills the old man and all but one of his servants.

What is oedipus' reason for blinding himself?

Apollo prompted him to do it; nothing else good for him to see

What is ironic about Oedipus' claim that he is "stranger to the story"?

B/c he committed the murder

What does Oedipus ask Creon to do for him? Jocasta? His children?

Banish him; give Jocasta a proper burial; take care of Antigone and Ismene

According to jocasta, why can't Oedipus "gage the present from the past"?

Because he shouldn't believe the prophecy

How does the chorus feel about the possibility of Oedipus' guilt?

Cannot approve or deny the accusation

What special request does Oedipus ask of Creon regarding his children?

Comfort them after he has been banished

Whom does Oedipus now accuse? What is his reasoning?

Creon because he thinks that Creon wants to be king

What is Jocasta's advice to Oedipus on how to deal with the second part of the oracle?

Don't worry about it- many men have slept with their mothers in history and you can avoid it more easily

According to the Chorus, what are conditions in the city?

Everyone is dying, women are barren, fields are barren

According to Creon, what is the problem in finding witnesses or getting to the root of the problem?

Everyone who witnessed Laius' murder was killed except for one person who said he was killed by robbers and then left Thebes

According to Creon, what catches us all in the end, and who sits in judgement?

Fate catches us in the end and the gods sit in judgement

For what does the Chorus pray?

For the plague to pass

As the conversation continues, what happens to Oedipus' composure?

He becomes very angry and unsettled

What penalties does Oedipus decree on the guilty party?

He decrees that the guilty will be exiled, but not harmed

What is Creon's argument against Oedipus' accusations? Why does Creon not need to be king?

He doesn't want or need to be king; He is Jocasta's brother so he already has some power without the responsibilities of being king

What is Oedipus' attitude about "breaking this plague"?

He is angry and shocked that the murder was not investigated; so he decides to investigate

What is Oedipus' emotional and physical condition after Jocasta has died?

He is very upset and gouges his eyes out - he has blinded himself

Of what is Oedipus still clueless? What within him blinds him to this reality?

He still doesn't know who his real parents are because of his ignorance and lack of knowledge

In his speech to Oedipus, what is important to Creon?

He wants Oedipus to go to the oracle to find out if Creon really killed Laius

What does Teiresias accuse Oedipus of being "wrapped together in"? What is the sin?

Incest

What tragedy does the official report?

Jocasta is dead b/c she hung herself

Who was the King of Thebes? Who was the queen?

King Laius and Queen Jocasta

What seems to emerge as one of Oedipus' character flaws?

Lack of knowledge, impulsiveness, temper

What is ironic about Oedipus' statement "his marriage bed my bed of seed"?

Laius' marriage bed = where Oedipus was conceived

What did he do with his only son? Why?

Left on Mt. Cithaeron because a prophecy said that Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother

How does Oedipus treat Creon?

Like is a criminal; astonished that he would come to the palace

Where/why might Teiresias be wrong?

May have been wrong in saying that it didn't matter if he told oedipus the prophecy

According to Oedipus, what future woes await his children?

No one will want to marry his daughters because they are a product of incest

What does Jocasta mean by "We are going to pieces at the sight of whom the Steersman of the ship astray by fright"?

Oedipus is worried which makes everyone else worried

What does Teiresias know?

Oedipus killed Laius

According to teiresias, what will Oedipus discover today?

Oedipus will discover the truth; jocasta is his mom and he killed Laius, his father

What is Teiresias' response to the accusation?

Oedipus will soon know the truth and he will be miserable

How did Polybus die? What is Oedipus' reaction?

Old age, Oedipus is happy because it means he didn't kill his father

How does Creon say to treat Oedipus in this final section?

Only kin should know what has happened

According to the Chorus, who might be able to help discover the murderer's identity?

Phoebus

What tragic newsflash does the messenger give about Oedipus' parents?

Polybus and Merope aren't his real parents

Who adopts Oedipus?

Polybus and Merope, king and queen of Corinth

What seemingly "good" news does the messenger bring?

Polybus is dead

What "evidence" does Jocasta unknowingly reveal in her conservation with Oedipus?

Reveals that Laius was destined to be killed by his son so they left their son on a mountain with pinned ankles

What "evidence" does oedipus unknowing reveal in his speech?

Reveals that he was destined to kill his father and he killed a group of travelers

At what point does Jocasta know? What does she attempt to do?

She knows when the messenger tells oedipus that he was left on Mt. Cithaeron; she urges Oedipus to stop asking questions

How does Jocasta sooth both men's anger?

She tells them that humans cannot prophesy the future, so they shouldn't be worried about Laius' murder

How does Oedipus link Creon and Teiresias to the crime? Why?

Since Creon was sent to find Teiresias, they were able to talk before Oedipus met with him

Explain Teiresias' statement: "These very gives you mouth at me will soon be hurled by every mouth at you."

Soon oedipus will be insulted and accused of the murder/incest

What does the Chorus urge Oedipus to do?

Stop arguing with creon

According to the Chorus, what divine being knows the truth about who the killer is?

Teiresias

What accusation does Oedipus hurl at Teiresias?

Teiresias is working for Creon to take over the kingdom

What does the shepherd violently tell the messenger to do? Why?

Tells the messenger to be quiet b/c he's afraid of Oedipus

Whom does Oedipus curse?

The herdsman who saved him as a baby

Summarize and interpret the last lines of the play

The last lines of the play are saying no one is truly happy until they have died without pain in their life

What prophetic entity is at the heart of each person's decision to act, rightly, or wrongly?

The oracle of apollo

According to Creon, why does Thebes suffer?

The plague is caused by Laius' murderer living unpunished in Thebes

What does the Chorus seem to celebrate prematurely?

They celebrate before oedipus finds the truth

How do the citizens of Thebes reward Oedipus?

They make Oedipus king w/ Jocasta as his queen

Where and on what mission has Oedipus sent Creon?

To Apollo's temple to find out how to get rid of the plague

Why does Oedipus leave Corinth?

To avoid fulfilling the prophecy

What are the rumors about Laius's death?

Was killed by certain wayfarers; a gang of robbers

At what point does Oedipus clue into the horrible tragedy that has unfolded before his eyes? How does he react?

When the herdsman tells him that the baby was destined to kill his parents, who were Laius and Jocasta

What central question does the chorus ask Oedipus about his actions?

Why did he blind himself?

What does Oedipus want to know from the elder?

Why there is a crowd in front of the palace

How does Oedipus treat Teiresias at first?

With respect and he talks about how Teiresias knows everything - tries to flatter him

To whom does the chorus pray?

Zeus

According to the priest, what is happening throughout Thebes?

a plague

How does Oedipus react to Teiresias telling him that he is the murderer?

feels angry, betrayed, and pissed off at Teiresias

How does Creon react to the accused charges against him?

he says it would be a dishonor to plot against Oedipus considering everything else going on in Thebes; is confused why; wants everyone to know it's not true

What does the priest want Oedipus to do?

save Thebes from the plague

Whom do Jocasta and Oedipus agree to summon to the palace?

shepherd who witnessed Laius' murder

What does "Oedipus" mean?

swollen foot