WLC Questions for Oedipus The King (Part I)

  1. Whom does Oedipus address when he first appears?
  2. Where does the opening scene take place?
  3. What major conflict or problem does the first scene introduce?
  4. What new information do you learn about Oedipus in his speech in lines 66-77?
  5. What great service did Oedipus provide the city when he first arrived in Thebes?
  6. Who was king of Thebes before Oedipus?
  7. What kind of leader does Oedipus seem to be?
  8. What purpose does the chorus serve in this tragedy?
  9. What happened to King Laius?
  10. With which god is the chorus most distressed?
  11. How does Oedipus’ decision to seek out the murderer of Laius add to his stature as a hero?
  12. Why has Oedipus summoned Lord Teiresias?
  13. What is ambiguous about the oracle’s words?
  14. What flaw in Oedipus’ character is suggested by his choosing to accuse Teiresias?
  15. Why is Oedipus angry with Teiresias?
  16. According to Teiresias, who is the murderer whom Oedipus seeks?
  17. How does Oedipus react to the mention of his parents?
  18. How does Oedipus react to the information that Teiresias gives him?
  19. Why does Creon return?
  20. What flaw in Oedipus’ character is suggested by his choosing to accuse Creon?
  21. What does Oedipus accuse Creon of doing?
  22. How does Oedipus want to punish Creon?
  23. In what ways do Jocasta’s actions parallel those of Oedipus earlier in the play?
  24. According to Jocasta, what did the oracle say would happen to Laius?
  25. Why is Jocasta frightened?
  26. What does the servant ask of Jocasta when he sees that Laius is dead and Oedipus is king?
  27. What did Oedipus do to avoid fulfilling the horrors he was told awaited him?

Oedipus (Part II): begins on page 503

  1. To which god does Jocasta direct her prayers?
  2. What news does the Messenger bring from Corinth?
  3. Describe the Messenger’s personality.
  4. Where was the infant Oedipus found?
  5. Why does Jocasta suddenly discourage Oedipus from pursuing information about his birth?
  6. What does Oedipus hope to learn from the Herdsman?
  7. How does Oedipus try to make the Herdsman talk?
  8. What fear drove Jocasta to give her child to the Herdsman?
  9. What news about Jocasta does the Second Messenger report?
  10. What motivates Oedipus to ask for a sword?
  11. What injury does Oedipus inflict upon himself?
  12. Why does Oedipus curse the man who saved him when he was an infant?
  13. What information does Creon want to learn from the God?
  14. What is Creon’s motivation for bringing Ismene and Antigone to Oedipus?
  15. What plea for his daughters does Oedipus make to Creon?
  16. Why does Oedipus insist that he is better off blind and living than dead?

to be continued…