PLOT & EVENTS
What disaster is plaguing Thebes at the start of the play?
A plague.
Who is the king of Thebes at the start of the play?
Oedipus.
This theme refers to how no one can escape their destiny.
Fate vs. free will.
What type of irony occurs when the audience knows Oedipus killed Laius, but he does not?
Dramatic irony.
Which Greek god delivers prophecies?
Apollo
What does Oedipus send Creon to do at the beginning?
Ask the oracle how to end the plague.
Who is Jocasta?
Oedipus’s wife and (unknown to him) his mother.
“Let me see the truth!” What theme does this connect to?
The search for truth.
Oedipus insults Teiresias for being blind. What literary element occurs later when Oedipus blinds himself?
Situational irony.
What mythical creature did Oedipus defeat before becoming king of Thebes?
The Sphinx.
What must be done to end the plague, according to the oracle?
Find and punish the murderer of Laius.
Who raised Oedipus in Corinth?
Polybus
Which theme is shown through Oedipus trying to escape the prophecy?
Fate cannot be avoided.
Oedipus thinks Creon wants his throne, but Creon actually wants peace. This is an example of what?
Misinterpretation / dramatic irony.
What was Laius doing when he encountered Oedipus on the road?
Traveling and refusing to give Oedipus the right of way.
What news does the messenger from Corinth bring?
Polybus has died; Oedipus is called to be king.
Which character tries to stop Oedipus from learning the truth?
Jocasta.
What symbol represents both knowledge and blindness to truth?
Sight vs. blindness.
What is Oedipus’s tragic flaw?
Pride (hubris).
Why were Oedipus’s feet swollen as a baby?
Laius ordered him to be left on a mountain with his feet bound.
What final action does Oedipus take after discovering the truth?
He blinds himself.
Who reveals the full truth about Oedipus’s past (the baby from the mountain)?
The shepherd / former servant of Laius.
What theme does Oedipus’s downfall ultimately illustrate?
Tragic flaw (hubris) leading to a tragic fate.
The prophecy that Oedipus will kill his father and marry his mother is an example of what element?
Foreshadowing.
Why does Oedipus blind himself instead of killing himself at the end of the play?
He believes he does not deserve to see the world after discovering what he has done and wants to suffer; he also feels unworthy to face the people or the gods.