What was the most important part of the costume in Greek theater?
Masks
What story tells of a woman tempted to open a jar given to her by the gods?
Pandora
Why did Oedipus leave Corinth, the home of his youth?
To avoid fulfilling a terrible prophecy (that he would kill his father and marry his mother)
Princess of Thebes, daughter of Oedipus
Antigone
What theme deals with valuing loyalty to the country/government vs. valuing loyalty to relationships?
Citizenship vs. Family Loyalty
What is the central irony in Oedipus Rex, and how does it connect to the theme of “Sight vs. Blindness”?
Oedipus can physically see but is blind to the truth about himself, while Teiresias is physically blind but sees the truth. This irony reinforces the theme of knowledge vs. ignorance.
Which group on stage represented the audience?
The Chorus
What does the Pandora's jar release?
All of humanity's troubles
- examples: suffering, disease, other evils
How did Oedipus first save Thebes before becoming king?
By solving the riddle of the Sphinx
The king of Thebes that believes money and anarchy are evil
Creon
What theme deals with the idea that our lives are predetermined vs. the idea that we made our own decisions
Fate vs. Free Will
Why is Antigone considered an early example of civil disobedience, and how might this idea still apply in the modern world?
She chooses to follow divine/moral law over Creon’s law, even though it means death. Today, civil disobedience still applies when people peacefully resist laws they see as unjust.
Name one of the three purposes of a chorus.
1. To help the audience come to their own conclusions
2. To help the audience feel included
3. To warn the audience of making the same mistakes as the characters
What was the last thing left in Pandora’s jar?
Hope
What truth does Oedipus learn from the shepherd?
Laios and Jocasta are his real parents
Queen of Thebes
Jocasta
What theme deals with being ignorant to the truth/too stubborn vs. seeing things for what they truly are/able to listen to advice
Blindness vs. Sight
Who wrote both Oedipus Rex and Antigone?
Sophocles
What story tells of a woman cursed to repeat what others say and a man obsessed with his reflection?
Echo and Narcissus
What does Oedipus do to himself after learning the truth?
He blinds himself
Who is the blind prophet who warns Creon and Oedipus?
Tiresias
What theme deals with rebelling against the laws of the government
Civil Disobedience
Name one of the themes that Tragedies dealt with.
- love
- loss
- pride
- and abuse of power
Why was Echo cursed to only repeat what others say?
She gossiped and lied to the gods
What is ironic about Oedipus's declaration of the curse against Laios's murderer?
He is unknowingly cursing himself
Who becomes king of Thebes after solving the riddle of the Sphinx?
Oedipus
What theme deals with the instinctual morals that guide us
Natural Law