Oedipus Rex

Question 0

Pericles’ legacy

Answer 0

• driving force behind Athens ‘golden age’
• Thucydides wrote of Pericles with great respect and admiration
• some viewed him as a tyrant who misused public money and monopolised power in what was supposed to be a democratic state

Question 1

When was the play produced ?

Answer 1

429 BC during the 2nd Peloponnesian War, the death of Pericles and a plague in Athens

Question 2

What sort of king was Odepius described to be ?

Answer 2

Odepius is described as tyrannus king rather than basilieus as he was ‘less legitimate’. Tyrannus was seen negatively

Question 3

Parallel’s between Oedpius and Pericles

Answer 3

• They both experienced a plague
• both seen as seekers of knowledge
• power rested in intelligence

Question 4

What is prothumia ?

Answer 4

A quality of acting swiftly. Desired quality of athenian leaders

Question 5

Isegoria

Answer 5

Good quality in speech

Question 6

List some characteristics of Odepius

Answer 6

• Prothumia
• Loving Husband
• Intelligent and Wise
• Inquisitive
• Arrogant
• Boastful
• Pride/Hubris
• Short tempered
• Blind
• Tyrannical
• Disrespectful

Question 7

Themes highlighted through Oedipus

Answer 7

• Family
• Sight vs Blindess
• Irony
• Fate and Destiny

Question 8

What is Oedipus Hamartia

Answer 8

• His trust in his own intelligence

- His need for knowledge

Question 9

What is Oedipus peripeteia ?

Answer 9

From king to exiled, blindness

Question 10

What is his angonarsis ?

Answer 10

• When he blind’s himself he can truly see as he knows and accepts the truth

Question 11

What is Oedipus Hubris ?

Answer 11

His quick temper

Question 12

What is Oedipus Fate

Answer 12

To marry his mother and kill his dad.
This pollutes his Oikos
Predestined

Question 13

Oedipus Similarities to other Characters

Answer 13

Creon in Antigone: as kings they have a duty towards their people and Oikos - (tries to ensure sovereignty after civil war) - tyrannical like Oedipus
Creon in Medea: same as above ( exiles Medea in order to protect family)
Tiresias: always know the truth unlike Oedipus and Creon
Jason: doesn’t consider the Intrests/feelings of others to some extent self-interested
Medea: driven by own interests (revenge towards Jason)

Question 14

What role does Tiresias play ?

Answer 14

• Shed’s light on Oedipus’ secret
• Blind vs Sight
• a good foil character
• ” you are the king… I am your equal”

Question 15

What is Jocasta role in the play?

Answer 15

• her death
• she’s queen and wife of Oedipus ‘ought to be’
• ## as she is mature she