Men in Masks Yelling
This group of performers commented on the action and represented the voice of the community.
What is the Chorus?
Tiresias accuses Oedipus of being blind not in his eyes, but in this way.
What is blind to the truth?
This character said, "Ohhhh, do not take my children from me!!!"
Who is Oedipus?
The only way to cleanse Thebes from its pollution.
What is exile or kill Laius's murderer?
The prophecy about Oedipus said this would happen.
What is murder his father and marry his mother?
A play that ends in the downfall of a noble character is known as this type of drama.
What is a tragedy?
Oedipus’ literal blindness at the end of the play symbolizes this internal realization.
What is self-awareness / recognition of the truth?
This character said, "You have nothing now. The power that made you great was your destruction."
Who is Creon?
Oedipus threatens to kill this character for "trying to overthrow" him.
Who is Creon?
Laius attempted to avoid the prophecy by doing this to his infant son.
What is giving him to a servant to be killed?
The audience’s prior knowledge of the myth creates this effect throughout the performance.
What is dramatic irony?
The contrast between Tiresias and Oedipus reinforces this theme about knowledge.
What is that physical sight does not equal true understanding?
This character said, "Count no man happy till he dies. Then, free from pain and sorrow - he may lie in peace."
Who is the Chorus?
Disgusted by her incestuous marriage, Jocasta chose to end her life in this way.
What is hang herself?
The tragic irony of the play is that every attempt to avoid fate does this instead.
What is help fulfill it / make it come true?
The offstage suicide of Jocasta reflects the Greek theatrical rule that avoided showing this directly to the audience.
What is graphic violence?
Tiresias’ refusal to speak at first implies that true sight carries this burden.
What is suffering / responsibility / painful knowledge?
This character said, "I pity you. Pity is the only word I know. The rest is nothing."
Who is Jocasta?
Oedipus used this object to blind himself.
What are the brooches from Jocasta's robe?
This god of prophecy delivers the oracle that seals Oedipus’ fate and is repeatedly referenced as the source of divine truth.
Who is Apollo?
By showing Oedipus as neither completely good nor completely evil, Sophocles follows Aristotle’s idea that a tragic hero should make the audience feel these two emotions.
What are pity and fear?
Oedipus refuses to look at his two daughters, ______ and ______, because they are the product of his mistake.
Who are Antigone and Ismene?
This character said, "And you would see a sight that would provoke his bitterest enemy to tears."
Who is the Second Messenger?
This is the mountain that Oedipus was supposed to die on as an infant.
What is Mount Cithaeron?
This oracle predicted that Laius would be killed by his own son.
Who is the Oracle at Delphi?