Oedipus the King: Study Questions Flashcards
- What ritualistic and sacrificial elements are there in the play?
The play begins with a plague and a public supplication at the altar of Apollo. Oedipus’ self-blinding serves as a symbolic sacrifice, fulfilling divine will.
- What is the function of the chorus?
The chorus represents the Theban people, providing commentary, moral reflection, and emotional responses to the unfolding tragedy.
- What is the function of the messengers?
Messengers deliver crucial plot revelations, such as Polybus’ death and Jocasta’s suicide, moving the story forward while maintaining dramatic tension.
- Examine the use of dramatic irony (also known as Sophoclean irony) in the play.
Oedipus seeks Laius’ killer, unaware he is the murderer. His curses, vows, and investigations ironically condemn himself, heightening the tragedy.
- By what means does Sophocles introduce the element of fate?
Prophecies, oracles, and repeated references to divine will emphasize fate’s inescapability, despite Oedipus’ attempts to avoid it.
- To what extent is Oedipus responsible for his downfall?
While fate determines his identity, Oedipus’ hubris, temper, and relentless pursuit of truth contribute to his tragic end.
- What are the recurrent images in the play?
Images of sight and blindness, light and darkness, plague, and prophecy reinforce themes of knowledge, fate, and human limitation.
- What is the effect of having the violence off-stage, and then reporting it?
Off-stage violence intensifies horror through imagination while keeping the focus on emotional and moral consequences rather than spectacle.
