Oedipus Review
1. Who wrote Oedipus the King, Oedipus at Colonus, and Antigone?
2. What do Oedipus's birth parents do to him shortly after his birth?
3. Why does Oedipus leave Corinth and his adoptive parents in the first place?
4. What is the significance of the fact that Polybus and Merope never tell Oedipus about his
adoption?
5. Why does Oedipus kill the old man in the crossroads? What does this deed say about his
character?
6. When Oedipus approaches the gate of the city of Thebes, what does he do that men
before him have failed to do?
7. What was the last thing that Oedipus saw before he punished himself?
8. Who is Apollo?
9. What is polytheism?
10. Why did people go to the Oracle at Delphi?
11. What is the major theme of the play?
12. What was the second plague that was visited on Thebes as a result of what Oedipus did?
13. What does Oedipus's name mean?
14. How does Jocasta die?
15. Why does the shepherd give Oedipus to Polybus and Merope?
16. What mistake in judgment does Oedipus make about Creon?
17. Why couldn't Teiresias have committed the actual murder of King Laius?
18. Why did Jocasta run out on Oedipus when he seems to be about to discover the truth?
19. Why does Oedipus think that Jocasta runs out?
20. What is the function of the chorus?
21. How is Oedipus punished?
22. What are the flaws that Oedipus possesses?
23. What are the strengths that Oedipus possesses?
24. Why is Oedipus a better man at the end of the play than at the beginning?
25. What is dramatic irony? How is Oedipus an example of this?