Stasimon 1

Question 1

The chorus refuse to believe

Answer 1

Oedipus is the murderer

Question 2

What do they wonder

Answer 2

Wonder who the man Apollo denounces is

Question 3

Want the murderer found

Answer 3

Apollo lunges and the furies close for the kill.

Hunt him down (he is dehumanised)

Question 4

How do they describe themurderer now

Answer 4

like the wild mountain bull, cut off from men, each step an agony, frenzied, racing blind (Prophetic of Oedipus’s fall as well as Oedipus’s blind frenzied accusations now)

Question 5

Their opinion of Tiresias

Answer 5

Can’t accept or deny the prophet

Question 6

They can’t tell the future, they know of no bad past mistake made by Oedipus

Answer 6

I can’t see what’s come, what’s still to come (predeterminism) (Oedipus’ prophecy)
I know of no past or present charge to bring against our king(who is he, idea of never knowing who someone is really)

• they know of no cause to attack his fame that rings throughout Thebes (like his cries later on)
• there’s no proof
  Can’t think of the cause of a feud between Laius’ house and the son of Polybus (he is of Laius’ house and not a son of Polybus)

Question 7

Superiority of the gods

Answer 7

Zeus and Apollo know (superiority of gods)

Question 8

But is Tiresias superior….and therefore

Answer 8

But can a mere man know the truth, more than I
No test no certain proof (though there will be)
I won’t side with his accusers till I see these charges proved