Quotes Flashcards
O’s remedy is decisive action
“You haven’t wakened me–/ I have wept through the nights…labouring over many paths of thought./After a painful search I found one cure”
Tactfully vague in his suggestions to O
He begs O to “Act now” yet only suggests that “perhaps [he’s] heard the voice of a god”
O to C
“Speak out,/speak to you all. I grieve for these, my people”
O quick to suspect political intrigue
Disregarding the account that Laius was murdered by “a whole band” of “thieves”, O attributes this to a singular “thief…paid off in Thebes”
Prologos
Sophocles utilises imperative sentence to show Apollo’s authority over mortals.
Apollo [relayed by the Oracle to Creon and then] to Oedipus:
The God, Apollo has commanded Oedipus to ‘drive the corruption from the land’ to cleanse Thebes of Laius’ murder.
Prologos
Sophocles utilises imperative sentence to show Apollo’s authority over mortals.
Creon will only begin by answering Oedipus’ first question, of the need to ‘banish the man, or pay back blood with blood. / Murder sets the plague-storm on the city”
Prologos
Sophocles utilises dramatic irony.
Oedipus makes a determined commitment to ‘bring it all to light… I am the land’s avenger… I’ll rid us of this corruption”
Prologos
Sophocles employs a dramatic irony.
Oedipus declares:
‘Here I am myself- you all know me, the world knows my fame: I am Oedipus.’
Prologos
Sophocles utilises positive characterisation.
O to the priest:
“Speak up, old man […] what preys upon you so? You can trust me.”
Prologos
Sophocles deploys dramatic irony
O to priest:
“I am ready to help, I’ll do anything. I would be blind to misery not to pity my people kneeling at my feet
Prologos
Sophocles uses nautical Imagery
Priest to Oedipus:
“[…] our ship pitches wildly, cannot lift her heard from the depths, the red waves of death… Thebes is dying”
Prologos
Sophocles uses metaphor + religious symbolism
Priest to Oedipus
“Thebes, city of death, one long cortege and the suffering rises wails for mercy rise and the wild hymn for the Healer blazes out clashing with our sobs our cries of mourning— O golden daughter of god, send rescue radiant as the kindness in your eyes!”
Prologos
Sophocles uses dramatic irony
Priest pronounces that Oedipus is ‘the best of men’.
