Characters
He solved the Sphinx’s riddle; he is the current King of Thebes
Who is Oedipus?
This Greek god, often associated with prophecy and oracles, plays a major role in the fate of Oedipus.
Who is Apollo?
This literary device is shown when the text says, "you [Oedipus] have seen our city reeling like a wreck"
This was what Apollo sent down on the town of Thebes because they had not found and punished the murderer of King Laius.
What is a plague?
The plague is causes these three things to happen (name 2)
What is/are
1. Women can't have children, children born die, no growing children in Thebes
2. Disease on the cattle/animals
3. Disease on the plants/crops
The repeated references to this sensory ability symbolize knowledge, truth, and self-awareness in Oedipus Rex.
What is sight?
She is Oedipus’ wife (and also his mom)
Who is Jocasta?
In Oedipus Rex, characters frequently consult this sacred oracle located in the city of Delphi.
What is The Oracle of Delphi?
When Oedipus says this,
“O three roads, ... can you remember the unspeakable things I did there?”
His statement here is an example of what literary element?
What is personification?
This person was sent by Oedipus to Delphi to find out what was causing the plague on the city of Thebes
Who is Tiresias?
This was the answer to the Sphinx’s riddle: What walks on 4 legs in the morning, 2 legs in the afternoon, and 3 legs in the evening?
What is a human?
This theme, often connected to Oedipus’ downfall, highlights the limits of human understanding and the danger of arrogance.
What is hubris?
He is the blind prophet/clairvoyant. He tells Oedipus he is King Laius’ murderer.
Who is Teiresias?
Ancient Greek drama was performed as part of festivals honoring this god of wine, fertility, and theater.
Who is Dionysis?
Language appealing to the five senses: "And the bleeding eyeballs gushed and stained his beard"
What is imagery?
Teiresias is this type of person. Oedipus asks him to reveal any knowledge of King Laius’ murder.
What is a prophet/
Oracle/fortuneteller/
Clairvoyant ?
These are the details about King Laius’ death according to Oedipus (Who was with Laius? Where did id happen? Why did Oedipus kill them?)
Who is/What is
1. The king was with his servants; Oedipus was the only murderer
2. Three Roads Meet is location
3. Oedipus would not give way to Laius, who got angry, and Oedipus killed him in self-defense.
The crossroads where Oedipus kills Laius serves as a symbol of this concept, where decisions determine future consequences.
What is fate?
He is Jocasta’s brother. Oedipus believes he is trying to take his power and throne.
Who is Creon?
The belief in this unavoidable concept, central to Greek tragedy, dictates that Oedipus cannot escape his destiny.
What is Fate?
The opposite of what we expect in a situation. Oedipus unknowingly kills his father and sleeps with his mother while he believes he is “fleeing” from his father and mother to avoid those exact acts
What is situational irony?
These are the reasons why Creon says he would not attempt to take Oedipus’ throne (Name 2)
What is
1.Creon already has the perks without stress/duties
2.Creon hates anarchy
3.Creon tells Oedipus he can directly ask the priestess at Delphi if he [Creon] is telling the truth
4.If he [Creon] is found to be at traitor, Oedipus can kill him
This is what King Laius and Jocasta did to prevent the prophecy concerning their son from coming true.
What is bind the baby’s ankles together and leave him on the side of a mountain to die?
The plague in Thebes at the start of the play symbolizes this what Apollo refers to as a ___ in the kingdom caused by Oedipus’ actions.
What is "pollution"?
These are the names of Oedipus’ adopted parents
Who are Polybus and Merope?
This term refers to the purification or release of emotions that audiences experience while watching tragedies like Oedipus Rex.
What is the "catharsis"?
When we (the reader/audience) knows Oedipus’ true identity, but he does not until the end of the play
What is dramatic irony?
Oedipus grew up in this town. He fled this town and never returned when the oracle told him he would kill his father and sleep with his mother.
What is Corinth?
Oedipus says that Teiresias can’t be that great of a fortune teller because he wasn’t able to do these TWO things.
What is/are
1. Answer the Sphinx’s riddle
2. Identify Oedipus as the killer either when it happened or since (why reveal it so late?)
Oedipus’ tragic discovery of his true identity demonstrates his pursuit of this thematic element.
What is truth?