Oedipus the King Study Questions Answers – Flashcards
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1. why have the priests come to the altar at thebes?
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The priests are trying to figure out how to remedy the plague
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2. how did oedipus once liberate thebes?
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Oedipus liberated Thebes by answering the sphinx's riddle
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3. why is creon away from thebes when the story opens?
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he is at the oracle of Apollo trying to get answers for the plague and how Oedipus can save the city
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4. according to creon, what does apollo want done?
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According to creon, apollo wants to purify the land of pollution (the plague and the murderer)
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5. how was Laius killed?
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Laius was murdered by many robbers, allegedly
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6. why wasn't the death of the king fully investigated?
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The Sphinx caused them to forget the crime
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7. who are the members of the chorus supposed to be
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The members of the chorus represent the townspeople.
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8. briefly summarize the prayer made by the first chorus.
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The chorus reminds us of the plague and that it is terrible compared to war. They also call upon Apollo.
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9. What "reward" does Oedipus offer for information about the murderer?
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Oedipus offered money.
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10. What punishment does Oedipus threaten for withholding information about the murderer?
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He says he will banish them if they withhold information.
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11. Why has Oedipus sent for Tiresias?
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He sends for Tiresias because he is a reputable profit.
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12. Why didn't Tiresias come immediately when Oedipus sent for him?
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He doesn't want to be the bearer of bad news.
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13. Why does Oedipus first grow angry with Tiresias?
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Tiresias wont tell Oedipus what he knows.
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14. Why does Tiresias grow angry with Oedipus?
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He calls him a traitor to the city.
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15. What accusations does Tiresias make against Oedipus?
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He accuses Oedipus of killing the king.
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16. why does Oedipus grow angry with Creon?
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He thinks Creon and Tiresias are plotting to get rid of him.
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17. what prediction does Tiresias make?
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Oedipus will realize he is the murderer, lose his eyesight, have no joy, lose all of his money, be exiled, and discover his odd relations with Jocasta and Laius.
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18. How do the people feel about the accusations Tiresias and Oedipus are making?
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They don't know what to believe but are siding with Oedipus.
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19. What does Oedipus think that Creon is plotting?
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He thinks Creon is plotting to take his crown.
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20. Why does Creon share Oedipus's power?
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The power is divided three ways among the family.
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21. According to Creon, why wouldn't he want to be a king?
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Creon already gets all the perks of being a king, without actually being the king.
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22. Why does Creon tell Oedipus to go to Delphi?
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Creon tells Oedipus to go to Delphi to prove his innocence from the oracle.
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23. What advice does Jocasta give to her quarreling husband and brother?
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Jocasta advises that they not let the feud be known to the public.
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24. Why does Oedipus release Creon?
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Jocasta tells him to release Creon.
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25. What is Jocasta's proof that humans cannot prophesy the future?
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Laius was killed by robbers, not her son, therefore the oracles must be wrong.
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26. Why is Oedipus so disturbed by Jocasta's description of the prophecy about her child?
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He realized that he may have actually killed Laius because their stories have eerie similarities.
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27. What favor did Jocasta grant the slave who witnessed the murder?
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She told him to run and never look back and to be a Shepard in the field.
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28. Who were Polybus and Merope?
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Polybus and Merope are Oedipus' supposed mother and father, respectively.
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29. Why did the drunken man's story bother Oedipus?
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It bothered Oedipus because the man called him a bastard.
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30. Why did Oedipus go to Delphi when he was a young man?
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He went to Delphi to prove that he is not a bastard child.
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31. Why did Oedipus run away from home?
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He ran away from home to avoid fulfilling the prophecy.
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32. Why did Oedipus kill the travelers?
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They tried to push him off the roads.
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33. Why is Jocasta sure that Apollo's prophesy turned out to be wrong?
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Jocasta thinks her son is dead, therefore he couldn't kill Laius.
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34. Why does Oedipus send for the shepherd?
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He wants to find out what he witnessed of Laius' murder.
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35. Do the members of the chorus side more with the divide prophesy or with Oedipus?
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They side with Oedipus.
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36. what offereings does Jocasta bear to the temples of the gods?
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She bears olive branches and incense.
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37. What news does the messenger bring?
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He says that polybus is dead and that he is not Oedipus' father.
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38. Why does Jocasta say taht the death of Polybus is a blessing?
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This means that the oracle did not know the truth.
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39. How does the messenger know that polybus was not Oedipus' father?
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The messenger is the one that found Oedipus.
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40. How did Oedipus get his name?
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He had severed Achilles Tendons when he was found and his feet were swollen.
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41. What advice does Jocasta give Oedipus about trying to solve the mystery of his birth?
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He shouldn't try to figure it out.
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42. Which character in the story is a slave?
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The herdsman is a slave.
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43. How do the messenger and the shepherd know each other?
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The messenger got Oedipus from the herdsman.
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44. Why does Oedipus threaten to torture the Shepherd?
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The shepherd won't tell him anything.
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45. What awful truth does the shepherd reveal?
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He reveals that Oedipus is Laius' and Jocasta's son and they tried to get rid of him because of the prophesy
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46. Why did Jocasta give her child to the shepherd?
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She wanted to escape the prophesy.
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47. Why didnt the shepherd kill the child?
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He pittied him.
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48. Briefly summarize how the chorus reacts to the truth about Oedipus?
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They feel bad for Oedipus and his misfortunes and they pity him.
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49. How does Jocasta die?
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She hanged herself.
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50. How does Oedipus blind himself?
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He stabs his eyes with Jocasta's gold brooches.
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51. Why does Oedipus blind himself instead of killing himself?
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He thinks he deserves a worse punishment.
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52. Who replaces Oedipus as ruler of Thebes?
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Creon replaces Oedipus.
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53. Why does Creon order that Oedipus be taken to the palace?
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Creon orders that Oedipus be taken to the palace because it is a family affair and they don't need to speak about it in public.
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54. What does Oedipus ask Creon to do with him?
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Oedipus asks Creon to take him to the middle of nowhere.
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55. What does Oedipus ask Creon to do for his children?
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He asks Creon to take care of his daughters.
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56. What wish does Creon grant Oedipus?
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He grants him exile.
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57. Briefly summarize the chorus's final speech.
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We should focus on the end of life because it is the most important and they stress that happiness is a life without pain.
