Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 1: Lines 1-168]
1. What is the dramatic purpose of the prologue? How does Oedipus characterize himself (8)?
2. What is his attitude toward the suppliants?
3. What conditions in Thebes does the Priest describe?
4. How do the suppliants view Oedipus?
5. What request does the Priest make of Oedipus?
6. According to Creon what did Apollo say must be done in order to cure Thebes of its pollution?
7. According to Creon what were the circumstances of Laius's death?
8. What motive does Oedipus assign to the killer of Laius?
9. What has Oedipus resolved to do?
10. Dramatic irony is a much-used literary device in this play. Remember that the Athenian audience
came into the theater already knowing the story of Oedipus and his horrible fate. Identify 2 quotes that
are examples of dramatic irony in this scene.
Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 2: Lines 169-337]
1. What is the reaction of the Chorus to the advice of Apollo (`the Healer of Delos') to Thebes?
2. What conditions in Thebes does the Chorus describe? Be specific.
3. What does Oedipus say will be the punishment for the murderer? What type of irony is this?
Explain why.
4. Identify two highly ironic quotes & explain their irony.
5. Why does Oedipus summon Tieresias?
Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 3: Lines 338-572]
1. What is Tiresias’s reaction to Oedipus's request for help? Use a quote for support.
2. How does Oedipus react to Tiresias’s refusal to answer?
3. What does Tiresias reveal to Oedipus as a result of the king's angry accusation?
4. Based on the situation, why might some people not believe Tiresias’s accusation?
5. What suspicion does Oedipus have about Creon? What might Creon’s motivation be?
6. In what way does Oedipus claim superiority over Teiresias?
7. After Oedipus’s accusations of Tiresias, Tiresias responds with several predictions about Oedipus’s
future. What are they?
8. What is the Chorus's view of Teiresias's accusations against Oedipus?
Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 4: Lines 573-750]
1. What motivates Creon's entrance at the beginning of this episode?
2. Why does Oedipus accuse Creon of conspiracy?
3. How does Creon defend himself against Oedipus's accusation? What does Oedipus threaten to do?
4. What does Jocasta attempt to do? Is she successful?
5. By the end of this scene, what personality trait is Oedipus demonstrating? Use a quote.
Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 5: Lines 751-997]
1. At this point, how does the chorus (the city) feel about the conflict between Oedipus & Creon?
2. How does Jocasta try to assure Oedipus that he is not guilty of Laius's murder? What is Jocasta's
view of prophecy?
3. What information does Jocasta give to frighten Oedipus? Explain.
4. Who does Oedipus believe his parents are, and where does he think he was born?
5. Why did Oedipus go to the Delphic Oracle and what was he told there?
6. How does the Oracle’s prophecy cause the original prophecy to come true? Explain.
7. Does Oedipus suspect (lines 883-909) that Laius is his father and Jocasta, his mother? Use a quote
to explain.
8. What detail in Jocasta's story of Laius's death does Oedipus take comfort in? What does the
audience know about this detail?
9. What wish does the Chorus express in the first stanza?
10. In your opinion, is Oedipus a tyrannical ruler? Is he guilty of hubris? Is he, therefore, responsible
for his own fate?
Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 6: Lines 998-1178]
1 Jocasta appears at the beginning of this scene alone on stage. What prayer does she make and to
whom? Does she know he is her son?
2. What news does the messenger deliver? How do Oedipus and Jocasta react differently?
3. In lines 1069-1078, what do we learn of Jocasta’s thoughts on destiny? What is her real motivation
in giving this advice?
4. What shocking information does the Messenger give to Oedipus? What part did the messenger play
when Oedipus was an infant?
5. Why does Jocasta attempt to prevent Oedipus from finding the herdsman?
Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 7: Lines 1179-1350]
1. What is Oedipus's view of the role of Chance (sometimes translated as `Fortune') in his life? Is
Oedipus's view correct? Explain your answer.
2. Provide 2 examples of irony from Oedipus’s opening speech. Explain their irony.
3. When the shepherd is brought in, how does he respond to the questions from Oedipus & the
messenger? Therefore, what is he trying to do?
4. What is Oedipus willing to do if the shepherd remains quiet? How is this ironic?
5. Are the events of Oedipus’s life destiny or a result of humans’ decisions?
6. Overall, how does the chorus now perceive Oedipus?
Name________________________
Date____________
Period________
OEDIPUS THE KING
Use details from the text to answer the following questions. Answers MUST be in complete sentences.
[SECTION 8: Lines 1351-end]
1. What shocking news does the Second Messenger announce?
2. How does Oedipus react to Jocasta’s suicide? What is the symbolic significance of his selfpunishment?
3. What does Oedipus intend to do? Why?
4. Who does Oedipus blame for his sorrows? Why?
5. What reasons does Oedipus give for his self-blinding?
6. How does Oedipus feel about Creon at this point? What requests does Oedipus make of Creon?
7. What future does Oedipus foresee for his two daughters?
8. What important truth about his life does Creon point out to Oedipus?
9. What general lesson does the Chorus draw from the example of Oedipus's life?