oedipus rex

Question 1

Who is Oedipus?

Answer 1

Oedipus is renowned, as everyone calls him ‘famous Oedipus’.

Question 2

What does the Underworld represent in the text?

Answer 2

‘Black Hades is growing rich’ and ‘he is emptying the house of Cadmus’.

Question 3

What situation does the Priest on the city ship describe?

Answer 3

‘Caught in a storm at sea, unable to keep afloat and escape the deadly waves.’

Question 4

What does Apollo order regarding exile?

Answer 4

‘Apollo clearly orders us, my lord, to drive it out.’

Question 5

What does Creon say about exile?

Answer 5

‘Someone must be exiled, or a death must pay for a death. The spilling of blood has brought this storm on the city.’

Question 6

What does Oedipus say about bringing the people together?

Answer 6

‘Bring the people of Cadmus together here. To witness that I will do all I can: either, with the gods’ help we shall be seen to prosper - or to fall.’

Question 7

What is Oedipus seeking?

Answer 7

‘Seeking vengeance for this land, and for the god as well.’

Question 8

How does Oedipus describe himself in relation to the story?

Answer 8

‘A stranger to this story’ and ‘a stranger to what was done.’

Question 9

What foreshadowing is present regarding Oedipus’s father?

Answer 9

‘I shall be fighting for him as if for my own father.’

Question 10

What does Oedipus say to Tiresias?

Answer 10

‘You despicable man’ and ‘you are betraying us and destroying this city.’

Question 11

What does Oedipus think about Tiresias and Creon?

Answer 11

‘In a life with all its heavy load of envy’ and ‘Creon…steals up on me and wants to overthrow me.’

Question 12

What does Tiresias tell Oedipus?

Answer 12

‘You may have eyes but you cannot see your danger’ and ‘now you see clearly, but then you will see darkness.’

Question 13

What does Tiresias say about his power?

Answer 13

‘Mock if you like but that is the source of my power.’

Question 14

What does Tiresias predict?

Answer 14

‘He’ll be revealed; and also son and husband to the woman who bore him.’

Question 15

How does the Theban elder bring bad news?

Answer 15

‘Like birds of omen.’

Question 16

What is the first Stasimon chorus’s reaction to the seer?

Answer 16

‘I was frightened, confused and frightened by the wise seer, I neither accept his words nor reject them.’

Question 17

What does the second Stasimon chorus say about men?

Answer 17

‘But as for men, there is no true way of judging whether a seer wins the prize over me.’

Question 18

What does Creon say about ruling?

Answer 18

‘Do you really think anyone would choose to rule and be afraid rather than sleep untroubled, while having power?’

Question 19

What does Creon fear?

Answer 19

‘There’s nothing worse than hearing the city call me a traitor.’

Question 20

What does Oedipus want for Creon?

Answer 20

‘I want you dead not just an exile.’

Question 21

What does Jocasta say about respect?

Answer 21

‘Respect this oath he has sworn to the gods.’

Question 22

What is Oedipus’s view on women?

Answer 22

‘I’ve more respect for you, wife than for these men.’

Question 23

What is Jocasta’s skepticism about prophecy?

Answer 23

‘No one who is mortal has the power of prophecy.’

Question 24

What does Oedipus realize about his curse?

Answer 24

‘It seems I have just exposed myself to a terrible curse, without knowing it.’

Question 25

What message does Delphi reveal?

Answer 25

'Delphi revealed another message, grim and terrible: I must mate with my mother.'

Question 26

What does Oedipus say about his actions?

Answer 26

'I killed them every one...who could be more hated by the gods.'

Question 27

What does Oedipus admit about his curse?

Answer 27

'Imposed this curse upon myself.'

Question 28

What does the messenger say about Polybus?

Answer 28

'Death now holds him in his grave.'

Question 29

What bad news does the messenger bring?

Answer 29

'Because Polybus was no relation of yours.'

Question 30

What does Jocasta urge Oedipus to do?

Answer 30

'In the name of the gods, if you have any concern for your own life, stop this inquiry.'

Question 31

What does Oedipus say to his servant?

Answer 31

'Your words need punishment.'

Question 32

What does the servant say to Oedipus?

Answer 32

'Don't torture an old man.'

Question 33

What does the servant imply about Oedipus?

Answer 33

'You were born ill-fated.'

Question 34

What does the fourth Stasimon say about generations of men?

Answer 34

'Generations of men you amount to nothing' and 'with your example before me, your fate...wretched Oedipus, I reckon no mortal happy.'

Question 35

What does the chorus say about Oedipus's fate?

Answer 35

'This has been the fate of Oedipus.'

Question 36

What do the children face?

Answer 36

'Who then will marry you?' and 'No one children. It's perfectly clear that you'll have to die barren and unmarried.'

Question 37

What is the chorus's final message?

Answer 37

'Which of our citizens did not look enviously upon his fortunes? But see now what a wave of disaster has overtaken them.'