Oedipus Rex
Terms associated with the 1st reading
p. 1-23/5-36
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Retrospection:___________________
Tragic Hero—In order for a character to be
considered a Tragic Hero they need to possess the
following:
–
–
–
–
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Noble Status
Inner Nobility
Free Will
Tragic Flaw
3 Ironies:
– Verbal, Situational, Dramatic
Oedipus Rex
First Readings p. 1-23/5-36
What do we learn about Oedipus’ virtues as
a ruler?
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Tragic Hero
– Noble Status:
– Inner Nobility:
Exposition/Rise in Action
Early in the exposition what do we learn
about the situation in Thebes?
Turning Point/Climax
Rise in Action
Exposition
Fall in Action
Catastrophe
What information does Creon supply?
Why is this an example of
retrospection?
What does Oedipus declare will be the fate
of the murderer of King Laius ?
What type of irony is this an example of?
Who is Tiresias and what is his message?
Of what significance is his blindness? SYMBOL
What is Oedipus’ response to the revelations of
Tiresias?
Component of the Tragic Hero
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What initial signs of rashness do we
see in Oedipus?
Where do you think these signs would
fall within the Tragic Hero
components?
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What false conclusion does Oedipus
reach as a result of his quarrel with
Tiresias?
What effect could this conclusion
have on Oedipus?
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What role does the first senator play in
the quarrel between Creon and
Oedipus?
What do we learn about Creon’s
character?
Oedipus Rex
p. 23-33/36-51
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When Jocasta questions what has happened
between Creon and Oedipus, what does the
Senator/chorus tell her?
Why do you suppose he does this?
Pg. 26/27 ; p.41
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How does Jocasta reassure her husband
that he could not be the killer of King Laius?
Jocasta uses ______________ when she
recalls the former King’s prophesy and
apparent death. (Lit. term)
Turning Point of the play
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How does the Jocasta describe the
former King?—be specific.
During his conversation with Jocasta,
what characteristic of the Tragic Hero
does Oedipus display.
Turning Point/Climax
Turning Point/Climax
Tiresias
Creon
Rise in Action
Exposition
Zeus
Oedipus
Fall in Action
Catastrophe
Turning Point
Why is this passage so important to the
plot of the play?
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What question has been driving the
first part of the play? What was
Oedipus’ primary objective?
What is he left to question AFTER his
conversation with Jocasta?
Turning Point/Climax
Jocasta/Retrospection
Turning Point/Climax
Tiresias
Creon
Rise in Action
Exposition
Zeus
Oedipus
Fall in Action
Catastrophe
Has Oedipus connected the
dots??
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What important information does
Oedipus share with his wife/momma?
After his conversation with Jocasta,
what “last hope” does he hold on to?
Turning Point Cont…
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By the end of p. 33/51, the Corinth
Messenger arrives in Thebes. What
news does he bring? Why is this SO
SIGNIFICNT to the plot?
“Revelations”
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By the end of this section, what has
Oedipus come to realize? Jocasta?
Oedipus’ crimes are not the first in the
unraveling of this tragedy. What is
believed to be the crime of Laius and
Jocasta?
Oedipus Rex Terms
p. 23-33/36-51
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5 “cides”
– Infanticide:
– Genocide:
– Regicide:
– Patricide:
– Suicide:
Oedipus Rex
p. 34-46/52-73
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Oedipus feels he may have surpassed
his fate when he hears the news that
his “father”(the King of Corinth) has
died of sickness and old age. Who
does he still fear and how is this a
form of irony?
Falling Action (1)
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What does the Corinth messenger tell
Oedipus about his past?
Why is this so important to the play?
Fall in Action 1
Jocasta/Retrospection
Turning Point/Climax
Tiresias
Corinth Messenger
Creon
Rise in Action
Exposition
Zeus/Oracle of Apollo
Oedipus
Fall in Action
Catastrophe
Jocasta’s Denial
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Why does Jocasta attempt to keep Oedipus from questioning
the shepherd?
How does Oedipus misconstrue her pleas to stop his
investigation?
Jocasta says, “O, woe, woe, unhappy! This is all I have to say
to thee, and no word more, forever!” What does she mean
by this?
What is implied about self-knowledge and its price in Oedipus
Rex?
Falling Action (2)
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Why is the shepherd reluctant to speak?
How does Oedipus demonstrate his free will
and ultimately one of his tragic flaws while
talking to the old shepherd?
What facts does the shepherd bring to light?
Fall in Action 2
Jocasta/Retrospection
Turning Point/Climax
Tiresias
Corinth Messenger
Creon
Rise in Action
Exposition
Zeus/Oracle of Apollo
Oedipus
Fall in Action
Catastrophe
The making of a
Catastrophe
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What news does the 2nd messenger
bring concerning Jocasta?
Concerning Oedipus?
How is this fitting for both characters
in the play?
Catastrophe/Exodus
Jocasta
Turning Point/Climax
Tiresias
Corinth Messenger
Creon
Slave/Witness/”Shepherd”
Rise in Action
Exposition
Zeus/Oracle of Apollo
Oedipus
Fall in Action
Catastrophe
Oedipus “sees” the light…

What admirable trait is revealed about Oedipus’
character in the scene where he discovers the full truth
about himself?
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How has Oedipus come full circle?
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How has he evolved into Tiresias?
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Why and what type of irony is this?
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What does Oedipus’ reaction to his downfall say about
his character?
Theme: Self-Knowledge

How do the metaphors of vision and
blindness reflect the theme of Oedipus
arriving at self-knowledge?
Metaphor
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Thebes
How does the image of the plague-stricken
city of Thebes serve as an ironic comment
on Oedipus’ situation?
5 “cides”
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Infanticide
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Genocide
Regicide
Patricide
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Suicide
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JOCASTA AND KING
LAIUS’ CRIMES
OEDIPUS’ CRIMES
How much control do
the Gods have in all of
this??
Can we chalk any of it
up to mere
coincidence?
JOCASTA…WHY? What does this tell us about
her character? Contrast her with Oedipus.
Theme: Self-Knowledge
How does Oedipus arrive at self-knowledge?
Oedipus’ character
coming full circle
What decision is Oedipus faced with at this point
in the play?
Exodus
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What does Oedipus ask of Creon?
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Creon’s reply?
Oedipus’ Evolution
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Initial Character
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Forces of Change
1.
Bent on_________________
1.
Quest for_________________
Rash and Proud of
_______________________
2.
Conversations with
2.
3.
4.
.
5
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________________
_______________of those
around him
_________________________
Gods/Prophecy
3.
Suspicions of others prove
_______________________
Oedipus’ Evolution Cont…
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Final Character
______________
________and _______ of his shame
______________
______________
Respects the power of
Theme of Fate:
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Sophocles raised the philosophical question of FATE and it’s
effect in one’s life….What effect does FATE have on Oedipus
and his situation? Family? Thebes?
…what is meant to be, will be.
Do you still agree/disagree now that we have read and
analyzed the text?
Theme of
Radical Alienation:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
What does it mean to be “radically
alienated”?
How was Oedipus radically alienated?
________
________
________
________
Tragic Vision:
Sophocles purpose
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What does the story of Oedipus teach
us, the reader?
– The story of Oedipus teaches us that we
never truly know ourselves as we think
we do. Sophocles wants us (his readers)
to consider the fact that one cannot
escape, what is meant to be…
…what is meant to be, will be.
Right???
Do we----or can we----control our own destiny or fate?
Did Oedipus ever have a chance?
Was he destined to travel down this path? If so, why?
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What did he think about FATE?
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Jocasta?
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Your self?
Symbolism in
Oedipus Rex
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Mt. Delphi (home of Apollo):
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the Sphinx:
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the Plague:
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Blindness:
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Corinth:
Important TERMS in
Oedipus Rex:
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Greek Mythology:
Greek Tragedy:
Tragic Hero:
Retrospection:
5 “cides”:
3 parts of a Greek Play:
3 types of irony:
Themes in
Oedipus Rex:
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Self-Knowledge:
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Fate:
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Radical Alienation:
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Tragic Vision: