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Classics - Mr Short > Oedipus Summary > Flashcards

Oedipus Summary Flashcards

1
Q

Describe briefly what happens in the Prologue lines 1-167

A
  • Oedipus speaks to a crowd led by a priest
  • Oedipus expresses his sympathy and concern & says hes sent for Creon
  • Creon returns with the oracle’s message: The plague will end when the murderer of Laius is killed or banished
  • Oedipus immediately swears to take action to find the murderer and save the city.
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2
Q

Prologue

What news does Creon bring

A

The plague will end when the murderer of Laius (the former King) is killed or banished.

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3
Q

Prologue

How does the play open

A

Oedipus, king of Thebes, receives a group of citizens led by an old priest, and he gives a speech

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4
Q

Prologue

What impression does the audience get of Oedipus from his opening speech

A
  • the audience can grasp his excessive pride
  • & benevolent, paternal attitude towards the crowd,
  • which he feels superior to
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5
Q

Prologue

How does the Priest speak about Oedipus

A
  • talks about him in a blasphemous manner
  • glorifies him
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6
Q

Prologue

What does the priest reveal is happening to the city

A

a plague that is destroying the city — a blight on the land causing famine and sickness.

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7
Q

Prologue

What does the Priest ask of Oedipus

A

In recalling Oedipus’ early triumph over the Sphinx, the priest begs the king to save Thebes once more.

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8
Q

Prologue

Why was the killer of Laius not pursued

A

only one person witnessed the murder

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9
Q

Describe briefly what happens in the Parados 168-244

A
  • The chorus chants a prayer to the gods Zeus, Apollo, Athena, and Artemis, describing the horrors of the Theban plague
  • In the name of the people, they beg for deliverance from the gods, but worry about the sacrifice that may be demanded in return
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10
Q

Parados

Which Gods/Goddesses are called upon during the ode

A
  • Apollo - as a healer
  • Artemis - as guardian of the earth
  • Zeus - as the most powerful
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11
Q

Parados

Why has Sophocles chosen for the Chorus not to know about Creon’s news

A

continues the dramatic irony begun in the first scene, foreshadowing the tragedy’s climax, the disgrace and downfall of Oedipus.

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12
Q

Parados

What is the general mood of the chorus

A

sense of desperation for Thebes, burdened with anxiety

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13
Q

Describe briefly what happens lines 245-314

A
  • In dramatic irony, Oedipus calls upon anyone, amongst the population of Thebes, who knows the murderer of Laius to come forward with the truth
  • As an incentive, he promises leniency, exile, not death, to the murderer and a reward to anyone providing information.
  • When no one steps forward, Oedipus curses the murderer and anyone who shelters him — including himself.
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14
Q

Summarise what happens lines 315-526

A
  • stichomythia between Oedipus & Tiresias:
  • The king asks for T’s help in finding the murderer, but the prophet refuses.
  • Furious, Oedipus accuses T of taking part in the murder
  • In response, T states flatly that Oedipus himself murdered Laius, & hints of his corruption & fate
  • Oedipus brags of his victory over the Sphinx instead of pursuing the murderer of Laius & declares that Tiresias and Creon must be plotting against him.
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15
Q

lines 315-526

Who arrives & what does he do

A
  • The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, reluctantly obeying Oedipus’ summons.
  • The king asks for Tiresias’ help in finding the murderer, but the prophet refuses.
  • Furious, Oedipus accuses Tiresias of taking part in the murder.
  • In response, Tiresias states flatly that Oedipus himself murdered Laius.
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16
Q

lines 315-526

How does Oedipus act hubristically in lines 425-428

A
  • hubris fills him with the confidence, that he is immune to pain from others, which prevents him from seeing himself as the issue
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17
Q

lines 315-526

What does Oedipus say which sparks a response from the leader

A
  • bragging of his victory over the Sphinx instead of pursuing the murderer of Laius.
  • Oedipus declares that Tiresias and Creon must be plotting against him.
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18
Q

lines 315-526

What does the leader say in reaction to Oedipus’ bragging

A

that he should act rationally & logically using the oracle

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19
Q

lines 315-526

What does Tiresias say in response to Oedipus accusing him of plotting against him

A
  • dark hints of Oedipus’ corruption and his fate
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20
Q

lines 315-526

What important shift happens on line 473

A
  • plot shifts from questioning who murdered Laius to who are my parents,
  • so continuing his pursuit for understanding his unconcious identity
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21
Q

Summarise what happens in the First Stasimon 526-572

A
  • The chorus wonders at the prophet’s accusation that Oedipus is the murderer of Laius, imagining him hounded by Furies
  • This idea does not fit with the accusations Tiresias has made against Oedipus, so they respect their prophet
  • But as loyal subjects, so they will stand by their king unless the charges are proved.
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22
Q

First Stasimon

Why does the Chorus doubt Tiresias

A
  • As they still love their illustrious, glorified King
  • So they are skeptical about accusations towards him
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23
Q

In what ways does the First Stasimon promote the importance of the Gods

A
  • acknowledges that karma revenge & punishment lies with the Gods
  • Zeus & Apollo know the truth, so the Chorus trusts in them, giving them the responsiblity of Thebes fate, & a worsening of the Plague
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24
Q

Summarise what happens in the Second Episode 572-953
1 . Before Jocasta Interrupts

A
  • Creon comes out of the palace to defend himself against Oedipus’ accusations of plotting
  • The chorus refuses to take sides
  • Oedipus arrives and reitterates his accusations by pointing out that Tiresias had never called him the murderer before.
  • Creon defends himself by saying that he currently has all the privileges of power without any of the responsibilities, & has no motivation to take the throne
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25
Q

Summarise what happens in the Second Episode 572-953
2 . Once Jocasta arrives

A
  • Jocasta sends Creon home ending their dispute
  • Oedipus continues to complain of Creon’s charge that he himself killed Laius
  • When Jocasta hears that the charge comes from a prophet, she dismisses it immediately,
  • evidencing that a prophecy said her son would kill her husband, a fate avoided when Laius abandoned the child on a mountain
26
Q

Summarise what happens in the Second Episode 572-953
3 . Hearing details of Laius’ death

A
  • After Oedipus learns the details of Laius’ death, he begins to worry that he is indeed the murderer.
  • Jocasta, however, reminds him that Laius died at the hands of many men, not one.
  • Nevertheless, Oedipus asks that the only living witness to the murderer, a shepherd, be brought to him for questioning
27
Q

Second Episode

What is convincing about Creon’s speech, & argument conveyed

A
  • he already has the advantages of being a King without the anxiety of ruling a Kingdom
28
Q

Second Episode

How does the leader react to Creons speech

A
  • can see the rationality in his point of view
29
Q

Second Episode

what is Oedipus’ tragic flaw revealed to be

A

In him acting hastily & characteristically Athenian - ‘I move quickly’

30
Q

Second Episode

Why does a Kommos begin in line 725

A
  • to further isolate Oedipus,
  • reflecting how his stubbornness in contraditction with the rationality he seeks provides emotional turmoil
31
Q

Second Episode

What is the significance of Jocasta’s speech to Oedipus

A
  • She takes Oedipus through a rational explanation of why the prophecy turned out to be false, she unexpectedly jogs his memory.
  • Paradoxically, then, Jocasta’s skepticism brings Oedipus to the suspicion that perhaps the prophet is right after all — and that he is the murderer of Laius.
32
Q

Second Episode

What does Jocasta think of the Prophecy in her speech

A
  • Jocasta, in contrast to Oedipus, rejects the power of prophecy,
  • citing as proof her own experience with the oracle who predicted that her son would kill her husband
33
Q

Second Episode

At the end of the episode, why is Oedipus so keen to meet the shepherd

A

so he can discover who is biological parents are

34
Q

Second Episode

what is the main revelation & recognition in this passage

A
  • Revelation - Oedipus cannot avoid fate, as its already been fulfilled
  • Revelation - it is imperative to find out who his parents are
35
Q

Summarise what happens in the Second Stasimon lines 954-997

A

The chorus glorifies the gods and destiny, rejecting human pride.

36
Q

Second Stasimon

What does the 1st stanza suggest

A

Chorus want Zeus to ensure the prophecy is fulfilled as this would confirm the extsitence of the Gods

37
Q

Second Stasimon

What does the 2nd stanza suggest

A

Tyrants rely on pride & wits, pride that deludes you

38
Q

Second Stasimon

What does the 3rd stanza suggest

A
  • punish the irreverent
  • if such people go unpunished, what is the point of honouring the Gods
39
Q

Second Stasimon

What does the 4th stanza suggest

A
  • The Chorus are worried that the Gods are failing to honour their Oracles,
  • which is a reflection of the growing Sophistry in Athens (questioning of the oracles)
40
Q

Summarise what happens in the Third Episode lines 998-1194
1 . messenger arrives

A
  • As Jocasta makes a sacrifice to Apollo,
  • a messenger arrives to announce the death of Polybus.
  • Oedipus rejoices at the news that the father he feared he would kill has died of natural causes,
  • but he continues to worry about the prophecy because his mother still lives.
41
Q

Summarise what happens in the Third Episode lines 998-1194
2 . messenger reveals to oedipus

A
  • Overhearing Oedipus, the messenger tells the king that he has nothing to worry about, since Polybus and Merope were not his real parents.
  • This news stuns Oedipus, and he awaits the shepherd to learn the truth of his birth.
42
Q

Summarise what happens in the Third Episode lines 998-1194
3 . Jocastas response to the messenger

A
  • Jocasta reaches her anagnorisis, realising that Oedipus is the baby she and Laius abandoned, and that the prophecy has come true.
  • She begs Oedipus to stop his inquiry, but he refuses, and she leaves the stage screaming
43
Q

Third Episode

How is deliberate Sophoclean ambiguity captured regarding Jocasta

A
  • she is not addressed by her name, beginning her isolation & degradation of character
44
Q

Third Episode

Why is Jocasta so pleased to hear that Polybus is dead

A
  • She thinks Polybus is Oedipus’ dad, so she thinks Oedipus hasn’t killed his father
  • this fills her with optimism
45
Q

Third Episode

Why does Jocasta leave the stage screaming

A

to emphasise that she has come to her anagnorisis, she cannot fathom that shes slept with her son

46
Q

What happens in the Third Stasimon lines 1194-1214

A
  • Infected by Oedipus’ enthusiasm to solve the riddle of his birth, the chorus optimistically imagine that he is the son of a woodland nymph who has slept with Pan or Apollo, Hermes or Dionysus.
  • All of these gods are associated with the countryside in some way–> foreshadowing
  • they ponder how despite Oedipus being born on the side of a local mountain, he is not a foreigner after all, but one of them.
47
Q

Summarise what happens in the fourth episode lines 1215-1310

A
  • The shepherd arrives but resists telling what he knows.
  • Only when Oedipus threatens violence does the shepherd reveal that long ago he disobeyed his orders and saved the baby out of pity.
  • And, finally, he admits that the baby was the son of Laius and Jocasta.
  • Oedipus reaches his anagnorisis
48
Q

Fourth Episode

Describe Oedipus’ manner towards the shepherd at the start of this episode

A
  • demanding, assertive & direct
49
Q

Fourth Episode

It becomes clear that the shepherd is deliberately trying to…………….., & Oedipus deals with this by……

A
  • withold information from Oedipus
  • torturing him
50
Q

Fourth Episode

Sophocles uses the Shepherd & Oedipus as …………… for his anagnorisis

A

opposites

51
Q

What happens in the fourth Stasimon lines 1311-1350

A
  • In a stark contrast to the the previous ode, the chorus now laments Oedipus’ horror & pain
  • The chorus chooses Oedipus as the supreme example of the fragility & uncertainty of human life, foreshadowing violence to come
  • recalls his power over Thebes & victory over the Sphinx, & compare these with his curent fall from grace
52
Q

Fourth Stasimon

What do you think the chorus means when it says “You are my great example, you, your life, your destiny, Oedipus”?

A
  • example of what not to do
  • deeply ironic, as glorification fuelled him
53
Q

Fourth Stasimon

Why do you think the chorus says it wishes it had never set eyes on Oedipus?

A
  • it wishes it never knew the capabilities of man,
  • so be it an egotistical, pride driven man
54
Q

Summarise what happens in the exodos, the fifth episode lines 1351-1684
1 . Jocasta

A
  • A messenger from the palace announces that the queen is dead
  • He describes the details of the queen’s suicide as well as Oedipus’ horrifying self-blinding
55
Q

Summarise what happens in the exodos, the fifth episode lines 1351-1684
2 . Oedipus arrives

A
  • Oedipus appears on stage to the horror and pity of the chorus.
  • Questioned about his self-mutilation, Oedipus explains in agony that he has raked out his eyes
  • because he could not look again upon the loved ones he has defiled,
  • especially his daughters Ismene and Antigone.
56
Q

Summarise what happens in the exodos, the fifth episode lines 1351-1684
3 . Oedipus & Creon

A
  • Oedipus begs Creon, who has assumed authority in Thebes, to have him put to death or banished.
  • Creon says that he will consult the oracle for judgement; in the meantime, he counsels Oedipus to accept obedience.
  • Humbled, Oedipus disappears with Creon into the palace, as the chorus again laments Oedipus’ downfall.
57
Q

Exodos

Why does Sophocles choose to highlight the love Oedipus felt for Jocasta

A
  • it is a story of identity, but also to emphasise how widely his actions have harmed people
58
Q

Exodos

What is unique about this messenger speech

A
  • includes extreme explicit images, no longer ambiguous as the revelations have been made
59
Q

Exodos

What is significant about Oedipus’ speech to Antigone & Ismene

A
  • in a despeate plea for his identity, he tries to protect their fragile futures, exasperbating the harm hes caused
  • increases our pathos for him, leaving 2 vulnerable girls behind
60
Q

Exodos

How does Creon act towards Oedipus

A

decisive & direct —> humbles Oedipus

61
Q

Exodos

Explain why Oedipus gouges out his own eyes

A
  • as self-punishment
  • as he cannot bare to see Laius & Jocasta in the underworld

Classics - Mr Short (6 decks)

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