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oedipus the king plot Flashcards

1
Q

Why was Oedipus given the crown of Thebes?

A

He solved the riddle of the Sphinx

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2
Q

Who is Creon?

A

Oedipus’ brother in law
Jocastas brother

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3
Q

What does Oedipus send Creon to do?

A

Consult Apollo about how to stop the plague

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4
Q

What does Creon say Oedipus must do to save his people?

A

Oedipus must find Lauis’ killer and avenge his death

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5
Q

Who is Lauis?

A

Former King of Thebes

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6
Q

What does Creon say Oedipus must drive from the land?

A

“Drive corruption from the land”

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7
Q

What does Tiresias say to Oedipus when he goes to consult him?

A

Tiresias tells Oedipus to leave + spare both of them the pain

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8
Q

Who is Tiresias?

A

An old blind prophet

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9
Q

What does Tiresias eventually tell oedipus?

A

“You are the curse, the corruption of the land”

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10
Q

What does Tiresias tell Oedipus that is more direct?

A

“You are the murderer you hunt”

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11
Q

What does Oedipus accuse Tiresias + Creon of?

A

Trying to steal Oedipus’ throne

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12
Q

What does Tiresias say about Oedipus’ downfall?

A

“Creon is not your downfall, you are your own”

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13
Q

What interaction do Tiresias + Oedipus have after O accuses T?

A

They have a confrontational, angry interaction

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14
Q

What does Tiresias say before leaving Oedipus’ palace?

A

The killer is in Thebes, will become blind + will turn out to be the son + husband of his mother
Brother + father to his children

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15
Q

What does Oedipus accuse Creon of?

A

Plotting to kill him

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16
Q

Who is Joctasta?

A

Oedipus’ wife

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17
Q

What does Jocasta say when she intervenes bet. Oedipus + Creon?

A

She asks them if their not ashamed with an outburst when the land is sick

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18
Q

How does Jocasta respond when Oedipus tells her about the prophecies?

A

She says “nothing human can penetrate the future”
She doesn’t believe them

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19
Q

What story does Jocasta tell Oedipus to reassure him?

A

That an oracle came to Lauis one day + told him he would be killed by his son
But Lauis was killed by a stranger, so she says it didn’t come true

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20
Q

What does Oedipus ask Jocasta?

A

Where Lauis was killed + how many people he was with

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21
Q

Who reported to Jocasta the info about Lauis’ death?

A

A lone survivor

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22
Q

Who does Oedipus ask Jocasta to bring?

A

The lone survivor - the only witness

23
Q

What story does Oedipus tell Jocasta?

A

He was told his parents in Corinth weren’t his real parents; he received the prophecy that he would marry his mother + kill his father so he ran away from Corinth + on the way he met travellers on the cross road where Lauis was killed

24
Q

What does Oedipus tell Jocasta he did at the crossroad?

A

He had a confrontation w one of the men + he killed them all

25
What does Oedipus realise after telling Jocasta the story?
He starts to realise that he may be the killer
26
What does Oedipus say should happen to him after he starts to realise the truth?
"I must be exiled"
27
What is Jocasta convinced of?
She's still convinced that her son was killed + wouldn't have the chance to kill anyone
28
What does the chorus say about pride?
"Pride breeds the tyrant"
29
What does the chorus sing about the truth of the prophecy?
If the prophecy isn't true, their religious faith is in danger of dying
30
What does Jocasta say about the prophecies?
"The latest prophecies are hollow"
31
What does the messenger tell Jocasta? Why is this good news for them?
That Polybus (Oedipus' biological father) is dead O thinks that P is his biological father + if he didn't kill him, the prophecy is false
32
What does Jocasta say about prophecies now that the news about Polybus has reached?
"They're nothing, worthless"
33
What does Oedipus say when Jocasta tells him not to worry anymore? Why does he say this?
"I live in fear, I must" Because his mother is still alive, so the prophecy can still fulfil
34
What does the messenger reveal to Oedipus?
That Polybus wasn't Oedipus' real father
35
What is revealed about who the messenger really is?
The messenger was given Oedipus as a baby with his legs bound, after he was abandoned in Mount Cithaeron
36
What happened to Oedipus' ankles?
They were pinned together + now he has scars
37
What is the foreshadowing of Oedipus' ankle scars?
They are a reminder of his fate
38
What does the messenger say about Oedipus' name? What does this mean?
"You got your name from that misfortune" Oedipus means feet in Greek
39
Who gave Oedipus to the Messenger?
A servant of Lauis
40
What does Jocasta tell Oedipus to stop?
"Stop in the name of god, if you love your own life call off this search!"
41
What does Oedipus say he must know?
"I must know my birth"
42
What does the Shepard say when he finds out who Oedipus is?
He says he doesn't want to give any info
43
What does Oedipus do to the Shepard?
He twists his arms back + tortures him
44
What does the Shepard say about the day he found Oedipus?
"I wish to god I'd died that day"
45
What does the Shepard reveal?
That the baby was given to him by Jocasta to kill bc she was afraid of the prophecy But he took pity + couldn't kill him
46
What does the Shepard say Oedipus was born for?
"You were born for pain"
47
What does Oedipus say after the revelation of who he is?
"Cursed in my birth, cursed in marriage"
48
What does the messenger report towards the end of the play?
"The Queen is dead"
49
What is Oedipus compared to when he bursts in to see dead Jocasta?
"Circling like a maddened beast"
50
What does oedipus do after cutting Jocasta down?
He rips of the brooches from her dress and lifts them high, looking into the points + digs them into the sockets of his eyes
51
What does Oedipus say after the blinding?
"You'll see no more the pain I suffered, all the pain I caused"
52
What does Oedipus command should happen to him in the end of the play?
He commands to be exiled from Thebes
53
What does Oedipus say the Gods feel about him?
"The man the gods hate most of all"
54
What does Oedipus ask Creon to do?
Exile him, bury Jocasta + look after his children

greek theatre (23 decks)

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