Oedipus Rex keywords

Question 1

destroyer - F

Answer 1

“Oedipus is his own destroyer.” Fagles

Question 2

detective novel - G

Answer 2

“Much of its appeal for modern readers may derive from its resemblance in some respects to a detective novel.” Garvie

Question 3

relentless and admirable - G

Answer 3

“Oedipus is relentless to know the truth, it is admirable.” Garvie

Question 4

search for own identity - G

Answer 4

The search for the killer of Laius turns into “the search for his own identity. Laius is forgotten, as is his earlier determination to save the city.”

(the shepherd is never questioned about the killing of Laius for which he was originally summoned) Garvie

Question 5

physically blind vs sighted - G

Answer 5

“Tiresias is physically blind, while Oedipus, the physically sighted, knows nothing.” Garvie

Question 6

responsible for fall - G

Answer 6

“It seems that both fate and Oedipus’ own character are responsible for his fall.” Garvie

Question 7

paradox - G

Answer 7

“Oedipus is a paradox in himself - he is both a saviour and a monster.” Goldhill

Question 8

arrogance - H

Answer 8

“His insistence that Creon is a traitor shows an arrogance about his abilities.” Higgins

Question 9

changing attitudes towards spiritual authority - H

Answer 9

“Doubt and mockery of prophecies and prophets reflects changing attitudes towards oracles and spiritual authority in 5th century Athens.” Higgins

Question 10

fate vs will - H

Answer 10

“Fate cannot be overcome by will.” Higgins

Question 11

puppet of fate - K

Answer 11

“Oedipus is not a puppet. In Greek eyes, fate is predictable and inescapable but within it there is choice and freedom of action.” Knox

Question 12

oedipus’ freedom - K

Answer 12

“Oedipus is allowed one freedom: “The freedom to search for the truth.” Knox

Question 13

epitome of Athenian character - K

Answer 13

“The poets language presents him to the audience not as a figure of a mythical past, but as one fully contemporary in fact he is easily recognizable as the epitome of the Athenian character.” Knox

Question 14

flaws - M

Answer 14

“His flaws are hot temper and impulsiveness (…) every act of his is performed rashly.” Mazzeno

Question 15

divine power vs human agent - R

Answer 15

“The divine power and the human agent are working together, hardly separable.” Rutherford

Question 16

Oedipus’ hamartia - W

Answer 16

“Oedipus’s hamartia is his arrogance, leading to hubristic behaviour.” Wyles

Question 17

Oedipus’ ignorance vs Tiresias - G

Answer 17

“Oedipus is ignorant but determined to know, whereas Tiresias knows the truth but is determined to supress it.” Garvie