Oedipus Summary Flashcards
Describe briefly what happens in the Prologue lines 1-167
- Oedipus speaks to a crowd led by a priest
- Oedipus expresses his sympathy and concern & says hes sent for Creon
- Creon returns with the oracle’s message: The plague will end when the murderer of Laius is killed or banished
- Oedipus immediately swears to take action to find the murderer and save the city.
Prologue
What news does Creon bring
The plague will end when the murderer of Laius (the former King) is killed or banished.
Prologue
How does the play open
Oedipus, king of Thebes, receives a group of citizens led by an old priest, and he gives a speech
Prologue
What impression does the audience get of Oedipus from his opening speech
- the audience can grasp his excessive pride
- & benevolent, paternal attitude towards the crowd,
- which he feels superior to
Prologue
How does the Priest speak about Oedipus
- talks about him in a blasphemous manner
- glorifies him
Prologue
What does the priest reveal is happening to the city
a plague that is destroying the city — a blight on the land causing famine and sickness.
Prologue
What does the Priest ask of Oedipus
In recalling Oedipus’ early triumph over the Sphinx, the priest begs the king to save Thebes once more.
Prologue
Why was the killer of Laius not pursued
only one person witnessed the murder
Describe briefly what happens in the Parados 168-244
- The chorus chants a prayer to the gods Zeus, Apollo, Athena, and Artemis, describing the horrors of the Theban plague
- In the name of the people, they beg for deliverance from the gods, but worry about the sacrifice that may be demanded in return
Parados
Which Gods/Goddesses are called upon during the ode
- Apollo - as a healer
- Artemis - as guardian of the earth
- Zeus - as the most powerful
Parados
Why has Sophocles chosen for the Chorus not to know about Creon’s news
continues the dramatic irony begun in the first scene, foreshadowing the tragedy’s climax, the disgrace and downfall of Oedipus.
Parados
What is the general mood of the chorus
sense of desperation for Thebes, burdened with anxiety
Describe briefly what happens lines 245-314
- In dramatic irony, Oedipus calls upon anyone, amongst the population of Thebes, who knows the murderer of Laius to come forward with the truth
- As an incentive, he promises leniency, exile, not death, to the murderer and a reward to anyone providing information.
- When no one steps forward, Oedipus curses the murderer and anyone who shelters him — including himself.
Summarise what happens lines 315-526
- stichomythia between Oedipus & Tiresias:
- The king asks for T’s help in finding the murderer, but the prophet refuses.
- Furious, Oedipus accuses T of taking part in the murder
- In response, T states flatly that Oedipus himself murdered Laius, & hints of his corruption & fate
- Oedipus brags of his victory over the Sphinx instead of pursuing the murderer of Laius & declares that Tiresias and Creon must be plotting against him.
lines 315-526
Who arrives & what does he do
- The blind prophet Tiresias arrives, reluctantly obeying Oedipus’ summons.
- The king asks for Tiresias’ help in finding the murderer, but the prophet refuses.
- Furious, Oedipus accuses Tiresias of taking part in the murder.
- In response, Tiresias states flatly that Oedipus himself murdered Laius.
lines 315-526
How does Oedipus act hubristically in lines 425-428
- hubris fills him with the confidence, that he is immune to pain from others, which prevents him from seeing himself as the issue
lines 315-526
What does Oedipus say which sparks a response from the leader
- bragging of his victory over the Sphinx instead of pursuing the murderer of Laius.
- Oedipus declares that Tiresias and Creon must be plotting against him.
lines 315-526
What does the leader say in reaction to Oedipus’ bragging
that he should act rationally & logically using the oracle
lines 315-526
What does Tiresias say in response to Oedipus accusing him of plotting against him
- dark hints of Oedipus’ corruption and his fate
lines 315-526
What important shift happens on line 473
- plot shifts from questioning who murdered Laius to who are my parents,
- so continuing his pursuit for understanding his unconcious identity
Summarise what happens in the First Stasimon 526-572
- The chorus wonders at the prophet’s accusation that Oedipus is the murderer of Laius, imagining him hounded by Furies
- This idea does not fit with the accusations Tiresias has made against Oedipus, so they respect their prophet
- But as loyal subjects, so they will stand by their king unless the charges are proved.
First Stasimon
Why does the Chorus doubt Tiresias
- As they still love their illustrious, glorified King
- So they are skeptical about accusations towards him
In what ways does the First Stasimon promote the importance of the Gods
- acknowledges that karma revenge & punishment lies with the Gods
- Zeus & Apollo know the truth, so the Chorus trusts in them, giving them the responsiblity of Thebes fate, & a worsening of the Plague
Summarise what happens in the Second Episode 572-953
1 . Before Jocasta Interrupts
- Creon comes out of the palace to defend himself against Oedipus’ accusations of plotting
- The chorus refuses to take sides
- Oedipus arrives and reitterates his accusations by pointing out that Tiresias had never called him the murderer before.
- Creon defends himself by saying that he currently has all the privileges of power without any of the responsibilities, & has no motivation to take the throne
Summarise what happens in the Second Episode 572-953
2 . Once Jocasta arrives
- Jocasta sends Creon home ending their dispute
- Oedipus continues to complain of Creon’s charge that he himself killed Laius
- When Jocasta hears that the charge comes from a prophet, she dismisses it immediately,
- evidencing that a prophecy said her son would kill her husband, a fate avoided when Laius abandoned the child on a mountain
Summarise what happens in the Second Episode 572-953
3 . Hearing details of Laius’ death
- After Oedipus learns the details of Laius’ death, he begins to worry that he is indeed the murderer.
- Jocasta, however, reminds him that Laius died at the hands of many men, not one.
- Nevertheless, Oedipus asks that the only living witness to the murderer, a shepherd, be brought to him for questioning
Second Episode
What is convincing about Creon’s speech, & argument conveyed
- he already has the advantages of being a King without the anxiety of ruling a Kingdom
Second Episode
How does the leader react to Creons speech
- can see the rationality in his point of view
Second Episode
what is Oedipus’ tragic flaw revealed to be
In him acting hastily & characteristically Athenian - ‘I move quickly’
Second Episode
Why does a Kommos begin in line 725
- to further isolate Oedipus,
- reflecting how his stubbornness in contraditction with the rationality he seeks provides emotional turmoil
Second Episode
What is the significance of Jocasta’s speech to Oedipus
- She takes Oedipus through a rational explanation of why the prophecy turned out to be false, she unexpectedly jogs his memory.
- Paradoxically, then, Jocasta’s skepticism brings Oedipus to the suspicion that perhaps the prophet is right after all — and that he is the murderer of Laius.
Second Episode
What does Jocasta think of the Prophecy in her speech
- Jocasta, in contrast to Oedipus, rejects the power of prophecy,
- citing as proof her own experience with the oracle who predicted that her son would kill her husband
Second Episode
At the end of the episode, why is Oedipus so keen to meet the shepherd
so he can discover who is biological parents are
Second Episode
what is the main revelation & recognition in this passage
- Revelation - Oedipus cannot avoid fate, as its already been fulfilled
- Revelation - it is imperative to find out who his parents are
Summarise what happens in the Second Stasimon lines 954-997
The chorus glorifies the gods and destiny, rejecting human pride.
Second Stasimon
What does the 1st stanza suggest
Chorus want Zeus to ensure the prophecy is fulfilled as this would confirm the extsitence of the Gods
Second Stasimon
What does the 2nd stanza suggest
Tyrants rely on pride & wits, pride that deludes you
Second Stasimon
What does the 3rd stanza suggest
- punish the irreverent
- if such people go unpunished, what is the point of honouring the Gods
Second Stasimon
What does the 4th stanza suggest
- The Chorus are worried that the Gods are failing to honour their Oracles,
- which is a reflection of the growing Sophistry in Athens (questioning of the oracles)
Summarise what happens in the Third Episode lines 998-1194
1 . messenger arrives
- As Jocasta makes a sacrifice to Apollo,
- a messenger arrives to announce the death of Polybus.
- Oedipus rejoices at the news that the father he feared he would kill has died of natural causes,
- but he continues to worry about the prophecy because his mother still lives.
Summarise what happens in the Third Episode lines 998-1194
2 . messenger reveals to oedipus
- Overhearing Oedipus, the messenger tells the king that he has nothing to worry about, since Polybus and Merope were not his real parents.
- This news stuns Oedipus, and he awaits the shepherd to learn the truth of his birth.
Summarise what happens in the Third Episode lines 998-1194
3 . Jocastas response to the messenger
- Jocasta reaches her anagnorisis, realising that Oedipus is the baby she and Laius abandoned, and that the prophecy has come true.
- She begs Oedipus to stop his inquiry, but he refuses, and she leaves the stage screaming
Third Episode
How is deliberate Sophoclean ambiguity captured regarding Jocasta
- she is not addressed by her name, beginning her isolation & degradation of character
Third Episode
Why is Jocasta so pleased to hear that Polybus is dead
- She thinks Polybus is Oedipus’ dad, so she thinks Oedipus hasn’t killed his father
- this fills her with optimism
Third Episode
Why does Jocasta leave the stage screaming
to emphasise that she has come to her anagnorisis, she cannot fathom that shes slept with her son
What happens in the Third Stasimon lines 1194-1214
- Infected by Oedipus’ enthusiasm to solve the riddle of his birth, the chorus optimistically imagine that he is the son of a woodland nymph who has slept with Pan or Apollo, Hermes or Dionysus.
- All of these gods are associated with the countryside in some way–> foreshadowing
- they ponder how despite Oedipus being born on the side of a local mountain, he is not a foreigner after all, but one of them.
Summarise what happens in the fourth episode lines 1215-1310
- The shepherd arrives but resists telling what he knows.
- Only when Oedipus threatens violence does the shepherd reveal that long ago he disobeyed his orders and saved the baby out of pity.
- And, finally, he admits that the baby was the son of Laius and Jocasta.
- Oedipus reaches his anagnorisis
Fourth Episode
Describe Oedipus’ manner towards the shepherd at the start of this episode
- demanding, assertive & direct
Fourth Episode
It becomes clear that the shepherd is deliberately trying to…………….., & Oedipus deals with this by……
- withold information from Oedipus
- torturing him
Fourth Episode
Sophocles uses the Shepherd & Oedipus as …………… for his anagnorisis
opposites
What happens in the fourth Stasimon lines 1311-1350
- In a stark contrast to the the previous ode, the chorus now laments Oedipus’ horror & pain
- The chorus chooses Oedipus as the supreme example of the fragility & uncertainty of human life, foreshadowing violence to come
- recalls his power over Thebes & victory over the Sphinx, & compare these with his curent fall from grace
Fourth Stasimon
What do you think the chorus means when it says “You are my great example, you, your life, your destiny, Oedipus”?
- example of what not to do
- deeply ironic, as glorification fuelled him
Fourth Stasimon
Why do you think the chorus says it wishes it had never set eyes on Oedipus?
- it wishes it never knew the capabilities of man,
- so be it an egotistical, pride driven man
Summarise what happens in the exodos, the fifth episode lines 1351-1684
1 . Jocasta
- A messenger from the palace announces that the queen is dead
- He describes the details of the queen’s suicide as well as Oedipus’ horrifying self-blinding
Summarise what happens in the exodos, the fifth episode lines 1351-1684
2 . Oedipus arrives
- Oedipus appears on stage to the horror and pity of the chorus.
- Questioned about his self-mutilation, Oedipus explains in agony that he has raked out his eyes
- because he could not look again upon the loved ones he has defiled,
- especially his daughters Ismene and Antigone.
Summarise what happens in the exodos, the fifth episode lines 1351-1684
3 . Oedipus & Creon
- Oedipus begs Creon, who has assumed authority in Thebes, to have him put to death or banished.
- Creon says that he will consult the oracle for judgement; in the meantime, he counsels Oedipus to accept obedience.
- Humbled, Oedipus disappears with Creon into the palace, as the chorus again laments Oedipus’ downfall.
Exodos
Why does Sophocles choose to highlight the love Oedipus felt for Jocasta
- it is a story of identity, but also to emphasise how widely his actions have harmed people
Exodos
What is unique about this messenger speech
- includes extreme explicit images, no longer ambiguous as the revelations have been made
Exodos
What is significant about Oedipus’ speech to Antigone & Ismene
- in a despeate plea for his identity, he tries to protect their fragile futures, exasperbating the harm hes caused
- increases our pathos for him, leaving 2 vulnerable girls behind
Exodos
How does Creon act towards Oedipus
decisive & direct —> humbles Oedipus
Exodos
Explain why Oedipus gouges out his own eyes
- as self-punishment
- as he cannot bare to see Laius & Jocasta in the underworld
