Characters
He’s the melancholy prince of Denmark who spends most of the play debating whether “to be or not to be.”
Who is Hamlet?
These two former friends of Hamlet are used by Claudius to spy on him, but end up dead in England.
Who are Rosencrantz and Guildenstern?
Oedipus’s journey shows that no matter how hard you try, you can’t escape this powerful force.
What is fate?
This event at a crossroads turns out to be the moment when Oedipus unknowingly fulfills part of the prophecy.
What is the murder of King Laius?
In Othello, the audience knows Iago is lying while Othello believes him, creating this type of irony.
What is dramatic irony?
She’s both Oedipus’s wife and his mother, a tragic figure who cannot bear the truth once it’s revealed.
Who is Jocasta?
Though he tries to reason with Oedipus and prevent chaos, this brother-in-law is accused of treason.
Who is Creon?
Hamlet’s hesitation to kill Claudius is rooted in this internal conflict, a major theme in the play.
What is action vs. inaction?
Claudius sends Hamlet to England with a letter ordering this.
What is Hamlet’s execution?
Oedipus Rex is a classic example of this kind of character, whose downfall is caused by a tragic flaw.
What is a tragic hero?
A master manipulator, he plays everyone like a game of chess—especially the Moor of Venice.
Who is Iago?
This Venetian woman is falsely accused of infidelity and remains loyal to her husband to the end.
Who is Desdemona?
The contrast between Oedipus’s literal and metaphorical understanding of events centers on this theme.
What is sight vs. blindness?
Oedipus blinds himself using these items after discovering the truth about his origins.
What are Jocasta’s brooches?
This item in Othello was Othello’s first gift to Desdemona and becomes a symbol of trust, fidelity, and betrayal.
What is the handkerchief?
She drowns in madness and sorrow after the death of her father and the loss of Hamlet’s love.
Who is Ophelia?
This character warns Ophelia to be wary of Hamlet's affections and later dies by Hamlet’s sword.
Who is Polonius?
Hamlet’s distrust of almost everyone, especially Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, highlights this theme.
What is betrayal?
Iago tricks Othello into eavesdropping on this conversation, making him believe Desdemona has betrayed him.
What is a conversation between Iago and Cassio (talking about Bianca)?
In Othello, Othello calls Iago “honest Iago” throughout the play, despite this obvious contradiction.
What is irony?
Though physically blind, this prophet sees the truth of Oedipus’s past more clearly than anyone else.
Who is Tiresias?
This character ultimately acts as a foil to Hamlet by quickly avenging his father's death without hesitation.
Who is Laertes?
The handkerchief becomes a weapon in exploring this destructive theme that drives the entire plot.
What is jealousy?
After revealing Iago’s scheme, this character is murdered by Iago to keep the truth buried.
Who is Emilia?
In Oedipus Rex, this citywide crisis becomes a symbol by mirroring the king’s internal guilt and the moral decay of leadership.
What is the plague?