Oedipus
Prologue
Scene One
Scene Two
100

Who were Oedipus' parents?

King and Queen of Thebes/Laius and Jocasta

100

What decree has King Creon issued regarding the bodies of Eteocles and Polyneices?

Eteocles will be buried and that Polyneices should not be buried
100

What does Creon say should be the utmost importance over friendships, family loyalty and religion?

Loyalty to the state, and the laws of man

100

How do the guards catch Antigone?

They remove the dust from the body and wait to see who comes to bury him again.

200

What was the prophecy King Laius received about Oedipus?

That Oedipus would kill him

200

What will happen if someone buries Polyneices?

Stoned to death

200

Why does Creon say that Polyneices shouldn't be buried?

He is a traitor

200

How does Antigone justify her actions for burying her brother?

She says that the unchanging laws of the Gods are more important than the laws of man

300

How did Oedipus survive after being abandoned?

He was given to a shepherd who gave him to another king and queen

300

How do Antigone and Ismene differ in their views regarding whether they should obey Creon's new law?

Antigone wants to bury her brother, Ismene is fearful and wants to obey the law.

300
What news does the Sentry bring Creon?

That someone has buried Polyneices

300

Why does Creon arrest Ismene?

She is acting frantic so he assumes she is an accomplice

400

What happened when Oedipus encountered his biological father on the road?

He killed him

400

How did Eteocles and Polyneices die?

They killed each other in the war that was launched on Thebes

400

Whom does Creon initially suspect of burying the body?

The Sentry

400

What is the double insult that Creon feels Antigone has committed?

Burying Polyneices and that she is a woman who defied him

500

What did Oedipus do after learning that he killed his father and married his own mother?

He blinded himself.

500

Why were the two brothers fighting?

Polyneices no longer wanted to take turns ruling Thebes, he wanted the city to himself.

500

What does the chorus tell us is the ultimate limitation to humanity?

Death/ no one can escape it.

500

What does the Chorus compare the curse of Oedipus to?

A dark tidal wave