Oedipus study guide questions and answers
2024 with complete solution.
He seems to be a very proud and arrogant king.
What is your first impression of Oedipus?
Thebes is unable to produce any crops, causing a famine. A plague.
What problem is afflicting the city of Thebes?
The city of Thebes.
What is the house of Cadmus?
They view Oedipus as a main force of men, making him a tragic hero due to
events happening later in the plot.
How does the priest say the supplicants view Oedipus? How does this begin to establish Oedipus as a
tragic hero?
The Priest reminds the audience that Oedipus is the hero who solved the riddle of
the sphinx (the "fell songstress") and freed the city of Thebes from its bondage.
What does the priest describe in this scene?
He had no human help when he had solved the Riddle of the Sphinx
Why do the supplicants believe that Oedipus will be able to find a solution to the famine?
Oedipus claims that each supplicant suffers only for himself individually while he,
Oedipus, suffers for the individual subject, his subjects generally, and for himself.
Why does Oedipus claim he suffers even more than the supplicants?
He seems to be a good king, but seems incredibly proud and arrogant.
What impression do we get from Oedipus based on his language?
Sent Creon to the Oracle of Delphi.
What actions has Oedipus taken to find an answer to the city's problem?
Brother-in-Law
What is Oedipus and Creon's relationship?
He sees that Creon is wearing a crown made from a laurel, the tree of Apollo, and
believes he would not do so if he had brought bad news.
Why does the Priest suspect Creon brings good news?
, The killer of Laius has to be exiled or killed to end the plague.
What does Creon report from the Oracle?
He immediately asks questions about the circumstances of Laius' murder,
presumably in order to help find the murderers and purge the city.
What is Oedipus' reaction to Creon's information?
They were preoccupied with the Sphinx
Why did the citizens of Thebes not investigate Laius' murder at the time it occurred?
Oedipus promises to avenge the murder of Laius.
What does Oedipus promise to do?
Theban commoners
Whose voices does the Chorus represent?
He is placing the curse upon himself
What is ironic about the curse Oedipus places on the murderer of Laius?
As Laius and Jocasta had no children, Oedipus will take on the cause of revenge
"as if" Laius were his own father.
Why does Oedipus insist that he will seek out and avenge Laius' murderer?
Oedipus is just using Creon as a tool.
Why is it significant that it was Creon whom Oedipus sent to the Oracle and now it is Creon whom
Oedipus has sent to get Tiresias?
This knowledge will hurt Oedipus.
Explain what Tiresias means by his first statement to Oedipus.
He knows that Oedipus is the culprit
Why does Tiresias at first seem to refuse to help Oedipus?
A plot to murder the king.
What terrible thing does Oedipus accuse Tiresias of doing?
The truth.
Goaded into anger by Oedipus, what does Tiresias finally tell him?
Oedipus accuses Tiresias of being blind
The truth revealed to Oedipus, what does Tiresias predict for him?
He is enraged. He accuses Tiresias of envy and trying to take the throne.
2024 with complete solution.
He seems to be a very proud and arrogant king.
What is your first impression of Oedipus?
Thebes is unable to produce any crops, causing a famine. A plague.
What problem is afflicting the city of Thebes?
The city of Thebes.
What is the house of Cadmus?
They view Oedipus as a main force of men, making him a tragic hero due to
events happening later in the plot.
How does the priest say the supplicants view Oedipus? How does this begin to establish Oedipus as a
tragic hero?
The Priest reminds the audience that Oedipus is the hero who solved the riddle of
the sphinx (the "fell songstress") and freed the city of Thebes from its bondage.
What does the priest describe in this scene?
He had no human help when he had solved the Riddle of the Sphinx
Why do the supplicants believe that Oedipus will be able to find a solution to the famine?
Oedipus claims that each supplicant suffers only for himself individually while he,
Oedipus, suffers for the individual subject, his subjects generally, and for himself.
Why does Oedipus claim he suffers even more than the supplicants?
He seems to be a good king, but seems incredibly proud and arrogant.
What impression do we get from Oedipus based on his language?
Sent Creon to the Oracle of Delphi.
What actions has Oedipus taken to find an answer to the city's problem?
Brother-in-Law
What is Oedipus and Creon's relationship?
He sees that Creon is wearing a crown made from a laurel, the tree of Apollo, and
believes he would not do so if he had brought bad news.
Why does the Priest suspect Creon brings good news?
, The killer of Laius has to be exiled or killed to end the plague.
What does Creon report from the Oracle?
He immediately asks questions about the circumstances of Laius' murder,
presumably in order to help find the murderers and purge the city.
What is Oedipus' reaction to Creon's information?
They were preoccupied with the Sphinx
Why did the citizens of Thebes not investigate Laius' murder at the time it occurred?
Oedipus promises to avenge the murder of Laius.
What does Oedipus promise to do?
Theban commoners
Whose voices does the Chorus represent?
He is placing the curse upon himself
What is ironic about the curse Oedipus places on the murderer of Laius?
As Laius and Jocasta had no children, Oedipus will take on the cause of revenge
"as if" Laius were his own father.
Why does Oedipus insist that he will seek out and avenge Laius' murderer?
Oedipus is just using Creon as a tool.
Why is it significant that it was Creon whom Oedipus sent to the Oracle and now it is Creon whom
Oedipus has sent to get Tiresias?
This knowledge will hurt Oedipus.
Explain what Tiresias means by his first statement to Oedipus.
He knows that Oedipus is the culprit
Why does Tiresias at first seem to refuse to help Oedipus?
A plot to murder the king.
What terrible thing does Oedipus accuse Tiresias of doing?
The truth.
Goaded into anger by Oedipus, what does Tiresias finally tell him?
Oedipus accuses Tiresias of being blind
The truth revealed to Oedipus, what does Tiresias predict for him?
He is enraged. He accuses Tiresias of envy and trying to take the throne.
