Oedipus quotes Flashcards
(139 cards)
1
Q
what is the first line of the play?
A
“Oh my children”
2
Q
what does Oedipus say to reassure the priest that he wants to help the city?
A
“i’ll do anything”
3
Q
what is the first mention of sight/blindness imagery?
A
“I would be blind to misery not to pity my people kneeling at my feet”
4
Q
how does the priest address Oedipus?
A
“Oh Oedipus, king of the land, our greatest power”
5
Q
what does the priest call the people of Thebes?
A
“Your great family”
6
Q
what does the priest say when he asks Oedipus to acknowledge the suffering of Thebes?
A
“look around you, see with your own eyes … Thebes is dying”
7
Q
according to the priest, what unnatural events have occurred due to the plague?
A
“A blight on the fresh crops and the rich pastures, cattle sicken and die, and the women die in labour, children stillborn”
8
Q
what statement does the Priest make that shows how highly Oedipus is valued and respected by the people of Thebes?
A
“Now we pray to you. you cannot equal the gods … but we do rate you first of men
9
Q
what does Oedipus say to the people of Thebes at the start to show he sees their suffering?
A
“sick as you are, no one is as sick as i. your pain strikes each of you alone … but my spirit grieves for the city, for myself and all of you”
10
Q
how does Oedipus reassure the Thebans that he is actively trying to help them?
A
“i acted at once. i sent Creon, my wife’s own brother, to Delphi - Apollo the prophet’s oracle - to learn what i might do or say to save our city”
11
Q
how does Oedipus express his religious piety and desire to help Thebes at the start?
A
“I’ll be a traitor if i do not do all the god makes clear”
12
Q
how does Creon act judicially when he returns with the prophecy from Delphi?
A
“If you want my report in the presence of these people, i’m ready now, or we might go inside”
13
Q
how does Oedipus act impulsively when Creon first returns with the prophecy from Delphi?
A
“Speak out, speak to us all”
14
Q
according to Creon, what advice did the oracle at Delphi give for how to save the city?
A
“drive the corruption from the land, don’t harbour it any longer, past all cure, don’t nurse it in your soil - root it out”
15
Q
according to Creon, what is the source of the plague?
A
“Murder sets the plague-storm on the city”
16
Q
according to Creon, “what stopped you from tracking down the killer there and then”?
A
“The singing, riddling Sphinx. she persuaded us to let the mystery go”
17
Q
what does Oedipus say when he announces he himself will reopen the case of Laius’ murder?
A
“I’ll start again - i’ll bring it all to light myself … i’ll rid us of this corruption”
18
Q
what ironic statement does Oedipus make when he decides to reopen the case of Laius’ murder?
A
“Whoever killed the king may decide to kill me too, with the same violent hand - by avenging Laius i defend myself”
19
Q
in the parados, how does the chorus emphasise the extraordinary destruction caused by the plague?
A
“Thebes, city of death, one long cortege”
20
Q
how does Oedipus elevate himself to a divine status when promising to help the Thebans?
A
“You pray to the gods? let me grant your prayers”
21
Q
what ironic statement does Oedipus make when beginning his investigation?
A
“i will speak out now as a stranger to the story, a stranger to the crime”
22
Q
what does Oedipus promise to the person who speaks up if they know about the murder of Laius?
A
“If any one of you knows who murdered Laius, son of Labdacus, i order him to reveal the whole truth to me … he will suffer no unbearable punishment, nothing worse than exile, totally unharmed”
23
Q
what does Oedipus promise to the person who reveals the murderer of Laius as “a man from alien soil”?
A
“if anyone know the murderer is a stranger, a man from alien soil, come, speak up. i will give him a handsome reward, and lay up gratitude in my heart for him besides”
24
Q
what punishment does Oedipus propose for the man who knows the truth about the murder of Laius but does not speak up?
A
“banish this man - whoever he may be - never shelter him, never speak a word to him … drive him out, each of you, from every home”
25
what curse does Oedipus put on the murderer of Laius?
"let that man drag out his life in agony, step by painful step - i curse myself as well if my any chance he proves to be an intimate of our house, here at my hearth, with my full knowledge, may the curse i just called down on him strike me!"
26
how does Oedipus reprimand the Thebans for not uncovering the murderer of Laius?
"How could you leave the crime uncleansed so long?"
27
what ironic statement does Oedipus make about the relationships he and Laius had with Jocasta?
"our seed might be the same, children born of the same mother might have created blood-bonds between us"
28
what ironic statement does Oedipus make about his dedicated to find the murderer of Laius?
"i will fight for him as if he were my father"
29
what curse does Oedipus put on anyone who disobeys his orders?
"let no crops grow out of the earth for them - shrivel their women, kill their sons, burn them to nothing in this plague that hits us now, or something even worse"
30
according to the leader, why is Tiresias needed?
"we need him - without him we have nothing but old, useless rumours"
31
how does the leader introduce Tiresias to Oedipus?
"the seer, the man of god. the truth lives inside him, him alone"
32
how does Oedipus address Tiresias when he first arrives?
"oh Tiresias, master of all the mysteries of our life ... you, my lord, are the one shield, the one saviour we can find"
33
how does Tiresias describe what it is like to know the truth about everything?
"how terrible - to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees!"
34
how does Oedipus respond when Tiresias is reluctant to share the truth with him?
"strange response, unlawful, unfriendly"
35
what irrational assumption does Oedipus make about why Tiresias won't share the truth about the murder of Laius?
"now i see it all. you helped hatch the plot, you did the work ... and given eyes i'd say you did the killing single-handed!"
36
what does Tiresias say when he reveals who is the cause of the corruption?
"you are the curse, the corruption of the land ... i say you are the murderer you hunt"
37
how does Tiresias hint to Oedipus the truth of his marriage?
"you cannot see how far you've gone in guilt"
38
how does Oedipus insult the powers of Tiresias?
"you've lost your power, stone-blind, stone-deaf - senses, eyes blind as stone"
39
what ironic statement does Oedipus make when denying Tiresias' claims?
"you cannot hurt me or anyone else who sees the light - you can never touch me"
40
other than Tiresias, who else does Oedipus accuse of scheming against him?
"Creon! is this conspiracy his or yours?
41
what does Oedipus call Tiresias when accusing Creon of deceiving him?
"he sets this wizard on me, this scheming quack, this fortune-teller peddling lies, eyes peeled for his own profit - seer blind in his craft"
42
how does Oedipus address Tiresias when accusing him of scheming against him?
"you pious fraud"
43
according to Tiresias, what is Oedipus blind to?
"you with your precious eyes, you're blind to the corruption of your life, to the house you live in, those you live with"
44
what question does Tiresias ask Oedipus about his identity?
"who are your parents? do you know?”
45
what does Tiresias say Oedipus is "all unknowing about"?
"all unknowing you are the scourge of your own flesh and blood ... the double lash of your mother and you father's curse will whip you from this land one day"
46
according to Tiresias, when will Oedipus "scream aloud"?
"that day your learn the truth about your marriage, the wedding-march that sang you into your halls, the lusty voyage home to the fatal harbour! and a crowd of other horrors you'd never dream will level you with yourself and all your children"
47
what does Tiresias say about Oedipus that reflects the wording of the prophecy from Delphi?
"no man will every be rooted from the earth as brutally as you"
48
what does Tiresias say to Oedipus about "this day"?
"this day will bring your birth and your destruction"
49
according to Tiresias, what will Laius' murderer do when he is discovered?
"blind who now has eyes, beggar who is now rich, he will grope his way toward a foreign soil, a stick tapping before him step by step"
50
what does Tiresias say about the warped family dynamic of Laius' murderer?
"revealed at last, brother and father both to the children he embraces, to his mother son and husband both - he sowed the loins his father sowed, he spilled his father's blood!"
51
in the first stasimon, what statement made by the chorus foreshadows the revelation of Oedipus' ancestry?
"what could breed a blood feud between Laius' house and the son of Polybus"
52
in the first stasimon, what statement made by the chorus shows their respect for Oedipus, but also foreshadows the revelation of his crimes?
"not till i see these charges proved will i side with his accusers ... never will i convict my king, never in my heart"
53
what does Creon say in response to Oedipus' accusations that shows the importance of reputation to him?
"i've no desire to linger out this life, my reputation in ruins ... there's nothing worse: branded a traitor in the city, a traitor to all of you and my good friends"
54
what statement made by the leader shows how much they respect Oedipus?
"i never look to judge the ones in power"
55
how does Oedipus react irrationally when he sees Creon outside?
"plotting to kill me, kill the king ... scheming to steal my crown and power"
56
how does Creon approach the accusations made against him in a rational way?
"hear me out, then judge me on the facts"
57
what ironic statement does Oedipus make to Creon about being convicted for Laius' murder?
"you never will convict me of the murder"
58
how does Creon compare his mindset to Oedipus when defending himself from the accusations made against him?
"see things calmly, rationally, as i do"
59
according to Creon, what will Oedipus learn well "in time"?
"time alone can bring the just man to light - the criminal you can spot in just one short day"
60
what does the leader think about Creon's advice for Oedipus?
"those who jump to conclusions may go wrong"
61
what conversation between Creon and Oedipus highlights their different morals and leadership styles?
"what if you're wholly wrong?" C
"no matter - i must rule" O
"not if you rule unjustly" C
62
how does Jocasta react to Creon and Oedipus arguing in public?
"have you no sense? poor misguided men, such shouting - why this public outburst?"
63
what does the chorus say to Oedipus that shows they agree with Creon and are starting to doubt their king?
"don't cast him out, disgraced branded with guilt on the strength of hearsay only"
64
what gnomic statement does Creon make about Oedipus receiving justice in due course?
"it's perfect justice: natures like your are hardest on themselves"
65
what is Jocasta's response to Oedipus relaying the prophecy from Delphi?
"a prophet? well then, free yourself of every charge!"
66
according to Jocasta, what did the prophecy given to Laius say?
"it declared that doom would strike him down at the hands of a son, our son, to be born of our own flesh and blood"
67
according to Jocasta, what happened to the son she bore to Laius?
"the boy's father fastened his ankles, had a henchman fling him away"
68
what ironic and impious statement does Jocasta make about the prophecy given to Laius?
"Apollo brought neither thing to pass"
69
according to Jocasta, where was Laius killed?
"at a place where three roads meet"
70
what is Oedipus' first anagnorisis? (not a quote)
he realises he killed Laius, but does not yet know that Laius was his father
71
when Oedipus has his first anagnorisis, what is his "terrible fear"?
"i have a terrible fear the blind seer can see"
72
how does Oedipus use sight imagery when experiencing his first anagnorisis?
"now i can see it all, clear as day"
73
according to Oedipus, when was the first time he heard the prophecy about his birth?
"some man at a banquet who had drunk too much shouted out ... that i am not my father's son"
74
what prophecy does Oedipus receive from Delphi after hearing what the drunk man at the banquet said?
"you are fated to couple with your mother, you will bring a breed of children into the light no man can bear to seen- you will kill your father, the one who gave you life"
75
how does Oedipus describe killing Laius and his heralds?
"i killed them all - every mother's son"
76
during his first anagnorisis, what does Oedipus say about the curses he made on the killer of Laius?
"no one but i brought down these piling curses on myself"
77
what does Oedipus say to Jocasta when he wants her to be honest with him?
"look me in the eyes"
78
what solution does Oedipus propose after experiencing his first anagnorisis?
"i must be exiled, and even in exile never see my parents, never set foot on native ground again"
79
after his first anagnorisis, what does Oedipus fear will happen if he doesn't exile himself?
"else i am doomed to couple with my mother and cut my father down"
80
after his first anagnorisis, what does Oedipus pray to the gods to not let happen?
"your pure and awesome gods, never let me see that day! let me slip from the world of men, vanish without a trace before i see myself stained with such corruption, stained to the heart"
81
what ironic and impious statement does Jocasta make about the prophecy when Oedipus fears he killed Laius?
"so much for prophecy. it's neither here nor there"
82
according to the chorus in stasimon two, what turns someone into a tyrant?
"pride breeds the tyrant"
83
in stasimon two, what do the chorus say they will never do again unless the prophecies come true?
"never again will i go reverent to Delphi, the inviolate heart of Earth or Apollo's ancient oracle at Abae or Olympia of the fires - unless these prophecies all come true"
84
what does Jocasta say when she first enters the temple of Apollo?
"it occurred to me, jut now, to visit the temples of the gods"
85
when Jocasta visits the temple, how does she describe the state that Oedipus is in?
"Oedipus is beside himself. racked with anguish, no longer a man of sense"
86
when Jocasta visits the temple, what does she say Oedipus refuses to do?
"he won't admit the latest prophecies are hollow as the old"
87
what "wonderful news" does the messenger bring to Jocasta and Oedipus?
"they want to make your Oedipus king of Corinth ... Polybus is dead and gone
88
what does Jocasta say to Oedipus about his father's death being a relief?
"but your father's death, that, at least, is a great blessing, joy to the eyes!"
89
what reason does Oedipus give to the messenger for why he ran away from Corinth?
"always terrified Apollo's oracle might come true"
90
how does the messenger reassure Oedipus that he does not need to stay away from Corinth?
"you've really nothing to fear ... Polybus was nothing to you ... not in blood"
91
according to the messenger, how did Oedipus come to be the son of Polybus and Merope?
"you were a gift, years ago - know for a fact he took you from my hands"
92
where did the messenger find Oedipus before giving him to Polybus and Merope?
"i stumbled on you, down the woody flanks of Mount Cithaeron"
93
in what condition did the messenger find Oedipus on Mount Cithaeron?
"your ankles were pinned together"
94
who gave Oedipus to the messenger?
"another shepherd passed you on to me ... he called himself a servant of, if i remember rightly - Laius"
95
at what point does Jocasta have her anagnorisis?
"he called himself a servant of, if i remember rightly - Laius" messenger
*Jocasta turns sharply*
96
what does Jocasta say to Oedipus when he asks for the shepherd that gave him to the messenger?
"if you love your own life, call off this search ... you're doomed - may you never fathom who you are"
97
when she experiences her anagnorisis, what is the "the only name" Jocasta says she has for Oedipus?
"man of agony - that is the only name i have for you"
98
what ironic statement does Oedipus make when Jocasta runs away after experiencing her anagnorisis?
"i'll never see myself disgraced"
99
how does the shepherd respond when the messenger reminds him of the boy he passed on?
"why rake that up again?"
100
what does Oedipus resort to when the shepherd refuses to talk about the boy he gave to the messenger?
"so, you won't talk willingly - then you'll talk with pain ... twist his arms back, quickly!"
101
according to the shepherd, where did he get the baby from?
"they said it was - his son! but the one inside, your wife, she'd tell it best"
102
according to the shepherd, why was he given the baby?
"to kill it ... she was afraid - frightening prophecies ... they said - he'd kill his parents"
103
What does the shepherd say to Oedipus about why he took the baby?
“I pitied the little baby … but he saved him for this, this fate, if you are the man he says you are, believe me, you were born for pain”
104
how does Oedipus react when he experiences his second anagnorisis?
"all come true, all burst to light!"
105
when experiencing his second anagnorisis, what curses does Oedipus say he is revealed in?
"i stand revealed at last - cursed in my birth, cursed in my marriage, cursed in the lives i cut down with these hands!"
106
in the fourth stasimon, how does the chorus use naval imagery to describe the relationships between Oedipus, Laius and Jocasta?
"one and the same lusty harbour served you son and father both"
107
in the fourth stasimon, how does the chorus describe the relationships between Oedipus, Laius and Jocasta?
"both son and father came to rest in the same bridal chamber"
108
in the fourth stasimon, how does the chorus use natural/agricultural imagery to describe the relationships between Oedipus, Laius and Jocasta?
"how could the furrows your father plowed bear you"
109
in the fourth stasimon, what statement does the chorus make that mirrors an earlier line of Creon's?
"Time, all-seeing Time has dragged you to the light"
mirrors "time alone can bring the just man to light - the criminal you can spot in just one short day"
110
how does the messenger use natural imagery to emphasise the extent of Oedipus and Jocasta's pollution?
"neither the waters from the Danube nor the Nile can wash this palace clean"
111
what gnomic statement does the messenger make about pain?
"the pains we inflict on ourselves hurt most of all"
112
according to the messenger, how does Jocasta lament Laius before killing herself?
"she wailed for Laius, dead so long, remembering how she bore his child long ago, the life that rose up to destroy him, leaving its mother to mother living creatures with the very son she'd borne"
113
according to the messenger, what does Jocasta mourn before killing herself?
"mourning the marriage-bed where she let loose that double brood - monsters"
114
in the messenger speech, how does the messenger use repetition to emphasise the warped relationship between Jocasta, Laius and Oedipus?
"husband by her husband, children by her child"
115
how does the messenger describe Oedipus looking for Jocasta?
"circling like a maddened beast"
116
how does the messenger use natural/agricultural imagery to describe the relationship between Jocasta and Oedipus?
"the mother earth that cropped two crops at once, himself and all his children?
117
how does the messenger describe Oedipus bursting through the doors to Jocasta in a way that foreshadows his blinding?
"bending the bolts back out of their sockets"
118
how does the messenger describe Jocasta when they find her dead?
"there we saw the woman hanging by the neck, cradled in a high woven noose, spinning, swinging back and forth"
119
according to the messenger, how did Oedipus react to seeing Jocasta dead?
"when he saw her, giving a low, wrenching sob that broke our hearts ... he eased her down, in a slow embrace he laid her down"
120
according to the messenger, how did Oedipus blind himself with Jocasta's brooch pins?
"lifting them high, looking straight up into the points, he digs them into the sockets of his eyes"
121
according to the messenger, what did Oedipus say when he blinded himself?
"you'll see no more the pain i suffered, all the pain i caused! too long you looked on the ones you never should have seen, blind to the ones you longed to see, to know"
122
according to the messenger, how does Oedipus repeatedly stab his eyes?
"over and over raising the pins, raking them down his eyes"
123
according to the messenger, what happened "at each stroke" of the pins in Oedipus' eyes?
"at each stroke blood spurts from the roots, splashing his beard, a swirl of it, nerves and clots - black hail of blood pulsing, gushing down"
124
how does the messenger describe the sight of Oedipus that the audience and chorus are about to see?
"you are about to see a sight, a horror even his mortal enemy would pity"
125
how does the chorus respond to Oedipus revealing himself after becoming blind?
"the terror - the suffering, for all the world to see, the worst terror that ever met my eyes ... i shudder at the sight"
126
according to Oedipus, for what reason did he blind himself?
"what good were eyes to me? nothing i could see could bring me joy"
127
after blinding himself, how does Oedipus acknowledge the impiety of his actions?
"loathed by all gods"
128
according to Oedipus, what would be the worst sight to see had he not blinded himself?
"worse yet, the sight of my children, born as they were born"
129
according to Oedipus, what other senses does he want to "block off" after blinding himself?
"if i could just block off my ears ... blind to the sound of life, not just the sight"
130
after blinding himself, what does Oedipus say when he despairs in the product of marriages?
"o marriage, you gave me birth ... you brought my sperm rising back, springing to light fathers, brothers, sons - one murderous breed - brides, wives, mothers"
131
after blinding himself, what does Oedipus say he has done all of?
"the blackest things a man can do, i have done them all"
132
after Oedipus blinded himself, what does the leader call Creon in relation to his role in the city?
"he's the sole defence of the country in your place"
133
what does Oedipus tell Creon to do now that everything is revealed and he is blind?
"drive me out of the land at once, far from sight, where i can never hear a human voice"
134
in replacing Oedipus as king, how does Creon show his religious piety? (x2)
"get him into the halls - quickly as you can. piety demands no less"
"first i wanted the god to clarify my duties"
135
how does Oedipus emphasise the warped relationships in the family when embracing his daughters at the end?
"come to these hands of mine, your brother's hands, your own father's hands"
136
how does Oedipus equate sight to knowledge when embracing his daughters at the end?
"seeing, nothing, children, knowing nothing, i became your father"
137
how does Oedipus use natural/agricultural imagery to emphasise the warped family relationships when embracing his daughters at the end? (x2)
"i fathered you in the soil that gave me life"
"he cropped the very roots of his existence" (Oedipus talking in the third person)
138
what is the final line of the play, and who is it spoken by?
"count no man happy till he dies, free of pain" the chorus
139
what id the date of Oedipus the King?
429BC
