Smarr Publishers
English
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Classical Studies
A Student’s Companion to
Oedipus Rex
by Dori Anne Abbott
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Oedipus Rex / 1
G
Introduction to Greek Drama
REEK drama originated about the
fifth century B.C. and was
connected with the celebrations of
Dionysus (Bacchus), god of wine. The
structure of the Greek theatre is an
engineering marvel that had the audience as
close to the action as possible. The acoustics
were very good. The theatre had only three
parts: the audience sat in the Auditorium, in
the form of a semi-circle; the players acted on
the Orchestra with an altar in the center of
it; and costumes were changed within the
Skene.
Two important terms associated with Greek
drama are tragic hero and tragic flaw.
According to Aristotle, the tragic hero
should cause us to feel both terror and pity about his situation. The tragic hero is generally of
noble birth, is basically a good man, but has a tragic flaw in his character. The tragic hero will
always undergo a moral test and because of his flaw, the hero will fail. In that he is not
completely good, nor completely bad, the tragic hero is quite human. Most importantly, we
sense a greater tragic effect since the tragic hero is of a greater moral worth than we are. In
other words, the hero’s change in fortune is of such a degree and so extraordinary that we
cannot but pity him.
What causes the downfall of the tragic hero is his error in judgement, called the tragic flaw.
More often than not, the flaw will be human pride that disobeys a divine or a moral law.
Because the hero is not necessarily an evil man, we feel pity for him, because his punishment is
very often more than he deserves. On the other hand, we become afraid because we are, as
sinful creatures, all subject to bad judgement from time to time and watching the downfall of
one greater than we are certainly should cause us to meditate about the consequences of sin and
pride.
Throughout the centuries, Aeschylus (c.525–456 B.C.) has been the undisputed “Father of
Tragedy.” Aeschylus is both an artist and innovator, who deserves the title well. His Oresteia
Trilogy is a masterpiece, which touches the ageless question about how suffering and
wickedness can be reconciled with justice. The Oresteia Trilogy represents the common
practice to perform a cycle of three plays where the final one was a comedy; that is, the final
play has a “happy ending.”
The other playwright in this study is Sophocles (496–406 B.C.) Matthew Arnold states that
Sophocles “saw life steadily and saw it whole” but he also understood “the eternal note of
sadness.” In short, Sophocles was aware of human misery. Indeed, the genius of Sophocles’
drama is making readers more aware of the conflict about them, internally as well as externally.
ROBERT W. WATSON
2 / Oedipus Rex
W
Introduction to Oedipus Rex
HO needs soap operas when there are Greek tragedies to
read? This story has all the excitement of a modern
television drama—power, envy, evil prophecies fulfilled.
Read this drama when you have a couple hours of uninterrupted time so
you can really understand what is happening. The ending will surprise
you.
Œdipus Rex (the King) is the first of a trilogy of plays about Œdipus
and his children. The other two plays are Œdipus at Colonus, which
continues the sufferings of Œdipus, and Antigone, which is about the
daughter of Œdipus, who violates a decree of the king in order to fulfill
her religious obligations.
Sophocles
The central rhetorical issue in Œdipus Rex is whether Œdipus and
Jocasta are innocent victims of a terrible fate, or whether both son and
mother are fully aware of their actions. If the former position is true, then there is no moral or
religious lesson that we can learn. If the latter position is correct, then Œdipus is deserving of
any punishment and misery that comes his way. As you read this play, gather evident that
supports both positions.
While the play does not go into the confrontation between Œdipus and the Sphinx, this event
is important for the background of Œdipus’s becoming the king of Thebes. In Greek
mythology, the Sphinx was a terrible monster—half woman and half lion. She terrorized
Thebes by planting herself at its gates, and asking everyone who passed by the following riddle:
“What animal goes on four feet in the morning, two in the afternoon, and three at night?”
Anyone who could not answer the riddle was strangled immediately by the monster. The only
man in Thebes who answered the riddle correctly was the newcomer Œdipus; so the people of
the city made him their king, after learning that their former king, Laius, had been killed by
bandits.
Œdipus Rex is one of the best of all
of the Greek tragedies. Therefore, sit
back and enjoy the story of a man who
had everything...or did he? As my
grandfather used to say, “Life is a long
situation!”
DORI ANNE ABBOTT
Oedipus and the Sphinx
Oedipus Rex / 3
Oedipus Rex
Lesson One
1.1 Vocabulary
extirpate v.
taciturnity n.
mountebank n.
1.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. The salesman was a true __________________, because he sold a cold remedy that did not
do a thing.
2. My uncle is a wonderful man, but his _______________ and quiet nature prevent my
knowing more about him and his background.
3. King Edward believed the solution to his “Scottish Problem” was by __________________
the entire culture of Scotland with constant war and destruction.
1.3 Reading Assignment: Œdipus Rex, pp. 1–13
1.4 Recall Questions
1. Who was the King of Thebes?
2. Why was the crowd gathered at the beginning of the play?
3. What mighty deed did Œdipus perform that caused the people to want him for their king?
4. What did the gods command Creon to do?
5. Why did the people fail to originally avenge the murder of Laius the King?
6. When the Chorus suggests that the god Phoebus tell who the murderer of Laius was, what
does Œdipus reply?
7. The blind prophet Tiresias accuses who of being the murderer?
1.5 Critical Thinking

Have you ever been accused of something you did not do, or perhaps did, but did not mean
to do? How did you feel? What action did you take? What actions and words did Œdipus
take? How did these hurt or help him?
4 / Oedipus Rex

What do you think the “gods” meant by this proverb: “Who seeks shall find; who sits with
folded hands or sleeps is blind”?

Explain how the allusions to seeing and blindness are significant in Œdipus the King.
1.6 Bonus Thoughts

Augury was the practice of telling the future from the flight of birds. Only a few rare
persons had this ability. Usually what was foretold was the next king or ruler of the land.
The word (found in today’s reading) had a later Latin counterpart, inaugurare which
eventually became inaugurate in English, meaning “to admit formally to an office.”
Liriope with Narcissus before Tiresias by Giulio Caprioni (c. 1660)
Oedipus Rex / 5
Oedipus Rex
Lesson Two
2.1 Vocabulary
truculent adj.
ethereal adj.
surfeit v.
2.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. Even though he lost the election, Mr. Samuel continued his _________ speeches, which
expressed his bitterness with the regime’s policies.
2. I don’t understand why Mom always ______________ our guests during Thanksgiving;
everyone feels miserable for overeating.
3. The proposal failed to gain acceptance, because it lack substance and was as ____________
as a morning fog.
2.3 Reading Assignment: Œdipus Rex, pp. 14-26
2.4 Recall Questions
1. What choices did Œdipus offer Creon as punishment?
2. Who was the peacemaker in Creon’s and Œdipus’ feud?
3. What was this feud about?
4. How did the feud start?
5. What did the oracle originally declare to Laius?
2.5 Critical Thinking

Was Œdipus right in thinking that Creon was envious of him? What does Œdipus mean
when he speaks of the wages of envy? Does the Bible speak of any wages for envy?
Discuss.

Explain how Jocasta’s actions toward Œdipus are more in line of a mother’s and not of a
wife’s.
2.6 Bonus Thoughts

The word envy comes from a Latin word meaning “to look at with malice.” To envy
someone, we must look at him, and then have malice (anger mixed with hatred) in our
hearts because of what he has. Inciting envy is the standard tool used by socialists who wish
to gain power. Socialist politicians with help of the mass media always portray conflicts as
two opposing factions, where one faction is better off than the other. In the American
6 / Oedipus Rex
empire this tactic as caused division between males and females, between the rich and the
poor, and between blacks and whites. When understood this way, we can see the Bible’s
specific commands as they relate to our being envious. Look up some of the following
verses to find out what God has to say about envy: Job 5:2; Psalm 37:1; Proverbs 14:30;
Proverbs 23:17; Proverbs 27:4; Romans 1:29; 1 Corinthians 3:3; 1 Corinthians 13:4;
Galatians 5:26; Titus 3:3; James 3:14 and 16; James 4:5; 1 Peter 2:1. Some instances of
envy resulting in evil consequences include Cain and Abel; Sarah and Hagar; Rachel and
Leah; Joseph’s brothers; Miriam, Aaron, and Moses; Daniel and the Princes of Babylon;
and the priests and Jesus. In short, envy will cause you to eventually want to kill someone
else for no good reason.
Note: These references are taken from the Authorized Version. Other versions may use a
different word besides envy.
Other depictions of Oedipus and the Sphinx
Oedipus Rex / 7
Oedipus Rex
Lesson Three
3.1 Vocabulary
prevaricate v.
parricide n.
miscreant n.
boon n.
3.2 Vocabulary Exercise
1. Because it is easier to compromise than to live by principle, most Americans are contented
to ________________ from Biblical truth and to embrace flattering lies.
2. The lord presented a parcel of land as a _____________ to the helpless widow, whose
husband had served him faithfully for many years.
3. The Christians’ religious beliefs were not the problem with Rome, which officially was
polytheistic; the Roman emperors treated the early Christians as ____________ and traitors,
because the believers refused to give allegiance to the Empire.
4. When governmental teachers tell children that it is their duty to spy on their parents, and
thus commit a form of ________________, then the State is destroying the very foundation
that allows it to exist.
3.3 Reading Assignment: Œdipus Rex, pp. 27–39
3.4 Recall Questions
1. What did Œdipus remember from his recent past?
2. When Laius was murdered, who was the sole survivor who brought the news back to
Thebes?
3. What did this man request from Jocasta, when Œdipus came to Thebes?
4. Why did Jocasta feel it necessary to visit the high shrines?
5. What message did the Corinthian messenger bring to the palace?
6. Œdipus tells the messenger the reason why he came to Thebes. What was this reason?
7. The messenger reveals to Œdipus that he found Œdipus as a baby where?
8 / Oedipus Rex
3.5 Critical Thinking

The name Œdipus literally means “swollen foot.” How do you think Œdipus got that name?
Why would he have swollen feet as a baby? Why would anyone do what his parents did to
him? Was the king’s command for the intended killing of Œdipus any worse than modernday abortion? Why or why not?

Offer evidence showing that Jocasta must have known she was marrying her own son.
Oedipus Rex
Lesson Four
4.1 Vocabulary
None today
4.2 Vocabulary Exercise
None
4.3 Reading Assignment: Œdipus Rex, pp. 40–54
4.4 Recall Questions
1. What did the herdsman tell Œdipus?
2. Why did Œdipus say he was triply cursed?
3. Whose tale was more sad than that of Œdipus?
4. What happened to Queen Jocasta?
5. What did Œdipus do when he found his mother dead?
6. What punishment did Œdipus ask for?
7. What favour did Œdipus ask of Creon?
4.5 Critical Thinking

What do you think about Jocasta hanging herself? Was it a right or wrong thing to do? Can
you think of anyone in the Bible who hung himself out of shame and guilt?

Matthew 6:22 says, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy
whole body shall be full of light.” When Œdipus found out what he had done, his response
was to poke out his eyes. Why do you think he did this? What was he trying to prove?
Oedipus Rex / 9

When Œdipus learns about the prophesy that he will kill his father and marry his mother, he
surely would have vowed to avoid killing an older man and marrying an older woman.
Discuss why he deliberately ignored these two commonsense actions when he got in a fight
with an older man and married an older woman.

At what point in his life do you think Œdipus realised that the prophesy was being fulfilled?
Do you think that Œdipus is an innocent bystander who was a victim to fate, or did Œdipus
have actual knowledge of the events that led to the murder of his father and incest with his
mother?

Explain the tragic flaw of Œdipus.
4.6 Bonus Thoughts

Irony is a literary device which has been used since ancient times to add colour to a story.
Life itself is full of ironies. Dramatic irony was especially popular in Greek tragedy where
the characters were unaware of fateful circumstances of which the audience had knowledge.
Linguistic irony is what we know today as something which has a double meaning.
In Œdipus Rex, it is ironic that of all the towns he could be king in, Œdipus had to choose
the one where his own estranged mother was the queen. In this section which you have read
today, it is ironic that Jocasta takes her own life in the bridal chamber, and it is ironic that
Œdipus becomes blind at the end when he sees his mistake, but he has rough words with
Tiresias who is physically blind, but who sees what Œdipus had done clearly enough.
Glossary for Oedipus Rex
boon (b›n) n. A gift, a grant; a favor granted
ethereal (¹-thîr“¶-…l) adj. Heavenly; celestial
extirpate (μk“st…r-p³t”) v. To pluck up by the roots; destroy completely
miscreant (m¹s“kr¶-…nt) n. An infidel; one who embraces false faith; an unprincipled person
mountebank (moun“t…-b²ngk”) n. A boastful and false pretender
parricide (p²r“¹-sºd”) n. The murder of father or mother
prevaricate (pr¹-v²r“¹-k³t”) v. To shuffle; to shift or turn from direct cause or from truth; to lie
surfeit (sûr“f¹t) v. To oppress with eating and drinking too much
taciturnity (t²s“¹-tûr“n¹-t¶) n. Habitual silence or reserve in speaking
truculent (tr¾k“y…-l…nt) adj. Savage, fierce, barbarous; cruel
10 / Oedipus Rex
Oedipus Rex
Vocabulary Quiz
1. The shepherd did not show any ______________, because his incessant babbling soon
revealed the secret.
(A) boon
(B) miscreant
(C) mountebank
(D) parricide
(E) taciturnity
2. Oedipus had an ill-tempered and _______________ disposition, which became evident
when he quarreled with Creon.
(A) ethereal
(B) truculent
(C) surfeited
(D) taciturn
(E) extirpated
3. By leaving his home and going to Thebes, Oedipus believed that he could avoid
___________ and thus foil the prophesy of his killing his father.
(A) boon
(B) miscreant
(C) mountebank
(D) parricide
(E) taciturnity
4. The blind prophet, Tiresias, has a(n) ______________ gift from the gods; indeed, since the
gods revealed their will to him, he could never be classified as a mountebank.
(A) ethereal
(B) extirpated
(C) prevaricated
(D) surfeited
(E) taciturn
5. King Oedipus believed that a good host was to _____________ his guests until they could
no longer eat another bite or drink another drop.
(A) etherealize
(B) extirpate
(C) prevaricate
(D) surfeit
(E) requite
OVER
6. BOON : MISFORTUNE : :
(A) shark : whale
(B) book : newspaper
(C) satisfaction : regrets
(D) murky : obscure
(E) contract : lawyer
7. CULTIVATE : EXTIRPATE : :
(A) work : labor
(B) forget : misplace
(C) rely : depend
(D) accept : refuse
(E) recall : remember
8. MISCREANT : CHAMPION : :
(A) hermit : recluse
(B) trap : mouse
(C) organ : piano
(D) devil : God
(E) bus : train
9. PREVARICATE : MISLEAD : :
(A) withdraw : occupy
(B) drop : dodge
(C) entertain : delight
(D) oppress : relieve
(E) block : open
10. MOUNTEBANK : CHARLATAN : :
(A) oracle : prophet
(B) count : king
(C) game : checkers
(D) foolishness : reservation
(E) ticket : station
11. During his reign as king, Oedipus had
power to destroy his enemies as well as
to give boons to his supporters.
The word “boons” means
(A) shoes.
(B) documents.
(C) exemptions.
(D) favors.
(E) pardons.
12. The shepherd had nothing to gain if he
were to prevaricate any facts about
what he did years ago.
The infinitive “to prevaricate” means in
this sentence
(L) to lie.
(M)to imagine.
(N) to ignore.
(O) to disbelieve.
(P) to blackmail.
13. The blind prophet, Tiresias, could not
be accused of being a mountebank,
because the old man revealed many
secrets only known to Oedipus.
The word “mountebank” means
(A) priest.
(B) pretender.
(C) soothsayer.
(D) counselor.
(E) miscreant.
CONTINUE ON NEXT PAGE
In order to discover the murderer of King Laius, Oedipus
sends for the blind seer, Tiresias. Even though he is reluctant, the
prophet announces Oedipus as the guilty person. Incensed by the
revelation, Oedipus denounces it as a plot by Creon to gain
14
the throne. Arriving in time to stop a fight between the two men,
she assures Oedipus that seers are not infallible. For
15
proof, Jocasta tells about the prophecy which her son was to kill
his father and have children by his mother. However, Jocasta
prevented the prophecy by abandoning their infant son in the
16
mountains. As for her husband, Laius had been killed by robbers
years later at the junction of three roads on the route to Delphi.
After his mother speaking, Oedipus recalls killing a
17
man who matched Laius’ description when he had fled from his
home in Corinth to avoid fulfilling a similar prophecy. An aged
messenger arrives from Corinth and to announce the death of
18
King Polybus, the supposed father of Oedipus, and the election
of Oedipus as king in his stead. Because of the prophecy,
Oedipus refuses to return to Corinth until Merope is dead as
well. To calm his fears, the messenger assures him that he is not
19
the blood son of Polybus and Merope, but is a foundling who
was deserted in the mountains. This statement is confirmed by
the old shepherd who Jocasta had charged with the task of
20
exposing her babe. Thus the ancient prophecy has been fulfilled
in every horrible detail. Jocasta in her shame hangs herself and
Oedipus puts out his eyes. Then wretched man imposes upon
himself the penalty of exile which Oedipus had decreed for the
murderer of Laius.
END
14. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
Incensed by it
Incensed by them
Incensed due to it
15. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
they assure
her assuring
Jocasta assures
16. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
her
his
its
17. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
Jocasta
mothers’
mother’s
18. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
and being announced
and announces
and would announce
19. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
Oedipus that he is
them that he is
her that he is
20. A.
B.
C.
D.
NO CHANGE
whose
who’s
whom
Answer Keys to Oedipus Rex
Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 1
1. mountebank
2. taciturnity
3. extirpate
Lesson 1
1. Oedipus was the King of Thebes.
2. The state had fallen upon hard times and famine.
3. Oedipus outwitted the sphinx.
4. Creon was commanded to punish Laius’ murderer.
5. The problem of the sphinx compelled the people to let the past slide and deal with present
problems.
6. Oedipus states that no one can force the gods against their will.
7. Tiresias accuses Oedipus of being the murderer.
Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 2
1. truculent
2. surfeit
3. ethereal
Lesson 2
1. Oedipus gives the choice of exile of of death.
2. The peacemaker is Jocasta the Queen.
3. Oedipus accused Creon of putting the seer up to blaming him (Oedipus) of Laius’ death.
4. False rumors and babbling tongues caused Oedipus to be suspicious that Creon was trying
to undermine him and eventually take the throne.
5. The oracle originally declared to Laius that he would be killed by his own son.
Vocabulary Exercise, Lesson 3
1. prevaricate
2. boon
3. miscreants
4. parricide
Lesson 3
1. Oedipus remembered that a drunk suggested that he was not the son of Polybus.
2. The sole survivor was a serf (or servant).
3. The serf requested to be sent far away from Thebes.
4. Oedipus was so overwrought he would not listen to her, so she was appealing to the gods
for mercy.
5. The message stated that Polybus was dead.
6. Oedipus came to Thebes in order to avoid killing his supposed father, Polybus
7. The messenger reveals that he found Oedipus at Cithaeron’s wooded glen.
1
Lesson 4
1. The herdsman states that Oedipus was Laius’ and Jocasta’s child left to die on a hillside.
2. Oedipus was triply cursed in birth, in wedlock, and in parricide (murder of a parent).
3. No one’s tale was more sad that that of the tale of Oedipus.
4. Jocasta hung herself.
5. Oedipus pulled off the decorative pins that held up Jocasta’s robes and poked his eyeballs
out with them.
6. Oedipus asks for banishment.
7. Oedipus asks the favor to feel and to touch his children once more.
Oedipus Rex
1. E
2. B
3. D
4. A
5. D
6. C
7. D
8. D
9. C
10. A
11. D
12. A
13. B
14. A
15. D (indefinite subject)
16. B (pronoun agreement)
17. D (mechanics)
18. C (parallelism)
19. B (indefinite object)
20. D (pronoun case)
2