Knowledge Potpourri
This creature threatened Thebes before Oedipus arrived in the city
The Sphinx
Oedipus believes this character is conspiring against him because he wants to become king of Thebes
Creon
"Blind instead of seeing, beggar instead of rich, he will make his way to foreign soil, feeling his way with a stick. He will be revealed as brother and father of the children with whom he now lives..."
Tiresias to Oedipus
This term means evil or disgusting (4 letters)
Vile
This term means a happening that is supposed to foretell a future event
Omen
These occurrences are the reason the Thebans come to Oedipus for help at the beginning of the play (Identify at least one)
Plague, stillbirths, livestock loss
Oedipus curses Laius' unknown murderer at the beginning of the play by saying that he will either be ________ or _______ when he is discovered
"As for [Laius'] son - three days after his birth Laius fastened his ankles together and had him cast away on the pathless mountains."
Jocasta to Oedipus
This term refers to the uterus, the organ in which babies develop
Womb
This term refers to the altar upon which sacrifices are made
Altar
Before Tiresias even delivers his prophecy, he tells Oedipus that he "will never reveal my dreadful secrets, or rather yours." This is an example of ______ because it hints at the later revelation that Oedipus is the murderer.
Foreshadowing
This character reveals to Oedipus that Laius was killed at a crossroads, increasing Oedipus' concern that he may actually be Laius' murderer
Jocasta (Oedipus' wife)
"...if I were king, I would have to do many things I have no mind to. How could the throne seem more desirable to me than power and authority which bring me no trouble?"
Creon to Oedipus
This term means a wreath of flowers
Garland
This term means to make a humble request
Petition
The chorus struggles to decide whether to believe Oedipus, their king, or Tiresias, the prophet of Apollo. This is an example of a ______ vs. ______ conflict
Person vs. Self
This character often serves as the voice of reason and the voice of the audience
The Chorus
"The double-edged curse of your mother and father...shall one day drive you from this land. You see straight now but then you shall see in darkness. You will scream aloud...on that day when you know the truth about your wedding."
Tiresias to Oedipus
This term refers to a deadly epidemic or plague
Pestilence
This term refers to the pain and/or suffering experienced by a character (or a group of characters)
Affliction
This is Oedipus' fatal flaw, the character trait that causes his downfall
Anger
These characters, a Dorian and a Corinthian, are the people Oedipus believes to be his birth parents
Polybus and Merope
"Listen, if you think stubbornness deprived of intelligence is a worth-while possession, you are out of your mind."
Creon to Oedipus
This term refers to the practice of trying to foresee the future
Divination
This term refers to mourning some loss or death
Lamentation