Oedipus Flashcards
What is happening in Thebes at the beginning of the story?
The Sphinx causing famine, deadly pestilence, and no childbearing.
According to Creon, why does Thebes suffer?
Thebes suffers because of the Sphinx
What penalties does Oedipus decree on the guilty party?
He is going to banish them
What does Teiresias know?
He knows who the killer is
What seems to embrace as one of Oedipus’ character flaws?
He is quick to anger
Where/why might the prophet Teiresias be wrong?
He is not predictable because he is blind
In his speech to Oedipus, what is important to Creon?
Oedipus being a strong leader
How does Jocasta soothe both men’s anger?
She separated them and convinced them to work together
What “evidence” does Jocasta “unknowingly” reveal in her conversation with Oedipus?
I Jocasta reveals that there was more than one killer because she use the word “they, “and she also tells where Laius was killed at
What “evidence” does Oedipus “unknowingly” reveal in his speech?
Oedipus unknowingly reveals that he was at the same place when Laius was killed
What seemingly “good news” does the messenger bring?
That oedipus’ father, Polybus, is dead.
What tragic newsflash does the messenger give about Oedipus’ parents?
That Polybus is not his father
At what point does Oedipus clue into the horrible tragedy that has unfolded before his eyes? How does he react?
Oedipus knows when the shepherd tells where the child came from; he reacts by being upset, and maybe even with some denial now at first.
After the Chorus, what is man’s pattern? What do they mean?
Man’s pattern is the will to know everything, or the desire to have knowledge; they mean that man strives to have more knowledge
What tragedy does the Official report? Explain the gruesome details.
Jocasta hangs herself. Oedipus takes hard down and stabbed his eyes out with the broches that he took off her robe.
What is Oedipus’ emotional and physical condition?
Oedipus distraught (not stable) and blind
What central question does the Chorus ask Oedipus about his actions?
Who, or what, made you stab your eyes out?
What is Oedipus’ response (reasoning)?
Apollo “spoke” to him and persuaded him to blind himself so he could not see the damage he had caused
Whom does oedipus curse?
The man that saved him from the field in which he would have been destined to die(the shepherd)
What does oedipus ask Creon to for him? Jocasta? His children?
To ban him from Thebes and take care of his daughters – his sons will be fine
What is ironic about Oedipus saying he is a stranger to the story?
This story is actually about him
What is the purpose of the chorus?
The course near rights what happens and then recaps what has happened
What special request does Oedipus ask of Creon concerning his children
To take care of his daughters, but that his sons will be OK
Discuss the meaning of powerlessness as it applies to Oedipus
The meaning of powerlessness pertaining to Oedipus is his inability to change his faith – Oedipus tried again and again to prevent the Prophecy from coming true, but I did anyways
What is his blindness symbolic of at the ending
Oedipus is blindness is symbolic of him not realizing that faith that the gods place on him, which was to kill his father and Marry his mother
At the end of the story he is less powerful because he is black, or is he more powerful because of his knowledge
At the end of the story, Oedipus is more powerful because of his knowledge; even though he has lost his physical side, he now has the knowledge of who he is and where he came from, allowing him to make sound decisions and assumptions without spinning his wheels trying to find an answer that was right in front of him the whole time (search is trying to find the killer of Laius)
Which Oedipus is more powerful
The Oedipus at the end of the story is more powerful, due to his ability to see the truth
