Oedipus Rex Study Guide Questions Name

“Oedipus Rex” Study Guide Questions Name: Period:

Punch holes into & place in notebook!!! Prologue 1. What are the people of Thebes suffering from?

2. What does the Priest ask Oedipus to do?

3. What two reasons do the Thebans have for pleading to Oedipus for help?

4. What initial step does Oedipus indicate he has already taken?

5. What is the significance of Delphi?

6. What is an oracle?

7. What is the message Creon was given from the oracle at Delphi?

8. Who was murdered long ago?

9. What single clue about the murder does Creon reveal?

10. What prevented the Thebans from tracking down the murderer of Lauis at the time the murder occurred?

11. What does Oedipus promise to do?

12. What is you first impression of Oedipus as a person and ruler?

Scene 1 13. What is Oedipus’ decree regarding the fate of the murderer?

14. What is the function of the chorus?

15. Why does Teiresias refuse to tell Oedipus what he knows? 16. How does Oedipus react when Teiresias reveals to him truth?

17. What does Oedipus say in anger that is offensive to the gods?

18. What is the significance of Teiresias to the god Apollo?

19. Whom does Oedipus assume is behind Teiresias’ claims?

20. List 4 of the many prophecies Teiresias gives to Oedipus regarding the murderer of King Lauis.

Scene 2 21. What two reasons does Choragos give Oedipus for believing Creon is innocent?

22. What reasons does Oedipus give to prove that Teiresias is wrong?

23. What does Creon argue to prove he is not guilty of treason?

24. Why does Jocasta have no faith in the oracles of seers and prophets?

25. Why does Oedipus suspect that Teiresias may have been right?

26. What account from the shepherd may clear Oedipus’ name?

Scene 3 27. Why does the messenger’s message make Jocasta so joyful?

28. According to Jocasta, why should Oedipus have no fear of sleeping with his mother?

29. What does the messenger tell Oedipus to prove that his fears are groundless?

30. Why does Jocasta want the questioning to end?

31. Why does Oedipus assume that Jocasta want the questioning to end?

32. What clues does the messenger give that reveals the truth to Jocasta? Scene 4

33. Oedipus is about to interrogate the Shepherd. Which characters has he already cross- examined in an effort to solve the mystery of Laius’ murder and his own identity?

34. Why do you think the Shepherd bursts in so angrily here?

35. Who else in the play so far has called Oedipus “unhappy” because of his desire to learn more?

36. Oedipus fails to experience recognition. What truths does he fail to see?

Exodos (The final scene)

37. How does Jocasta die?

38. As Oedipus stormed into the palace, do you think he intended to harm Jocasta?

39. Explain what Oedipus does to himself.

40. Why does Oedipus choose blinding himself rather than committing suicide? Explain whether or not this is an act of bravery or cowardice.

41. Why does Oedipus wish for all of Thebes to see him in his present condition?

42. What does the Choragos mean when he says to Oedipus, “You suffer it all twice over”?

Literary Terms Apply these literary terms to the Greek tragedy, “Oedipus” by explaining each with an example from the play. Use your notes. 43. Hamartia: (Give an example of Oedipus’ character flaw.)

44. Hubris: (Give an example of how Oedipus demonstrates excessive pride.)

45. Recognition: (Does Oedipus achieve recognition or fail to do so? Explain.) 46. Pathos (How do the events in Oedipus Rex evoke feelings of sympathy and pity in a reader?)

47. Tragic Hero: (How does Oedipus exhibit the true qualities of a tragic hero? Why would he be considered a hero?

Directions:  The question underlining the play is this: Is Oedipus’ destructive end a result of a doomed fate by the gods or was it because of his character flaws?

 To sufficiently answer this question, analyze each of Oedipus’ character flaws by explaining an example for his behavior and actions regarding each separate flaw. 48. Proud

49. Stubborn

50. Pompous

51. Judgmental

52. Has a temper

53. Give an example of the light/dark, blindness/sight motif throughout the play.

54. How are these motifs used to reveal situational and dramatic irony in the play?

55. Explain how these motifs reveal the central conflict of the play.