Oedipus and Antigone Questions and Answers Graded A+

Oedipus and Antigone Questions and Answers Graded A+ What the does the priest say to Oedipus? The priest tells Oedipus about the plague that ravages Thebes. He begs Oedipus to resolve the crisis reminding him he solved the riddle of the Sphinx before. Finally the priest tells Oedipus that it is in his own self-interest to rid the city of the plague. What qualities do we immediately see in Oedipus? Oedipus is a king who is compassionate, proud, efficient and intelligent. His decision to send Creon to Delphi demonstrates his forethought. His excessive pride, however, will lead him into trouble. He is hubristic, which is his tragic flaw, a flaw that leads him to his downfall. What is the importance of irony in Oedipus the King? What ironies are introduced in the prologue? The priest asserts that Oedipus is blessed by the gods and wise in mortal ways. But the Greeks knew that the god's curse of infamy and shame already looms over the king. They also recognized that wisdom would come to Oedipus only after he solved the mystery of his identity. Another irony is Oedipus' reputation for being Thebes' savior. As the unknown and unknowing killer of Laius, Oedipus is the very cause of the plague. Oedipus says he never met Laius, but in fact he not only met him but killed him. What news does Creon bring from Delphi? The oracle told Creon that the death of Oedipus' predecessor, King Laius, is the cause of the plague. Laius' killer must be found and expelled from the kingdom to lift the plague from the city. Creon also explains that Laius was killed on a road by a band of highwaymen. The danger of the riddling Sphinx prevented a proper investigation of the murder. What is the mood of the chorus upon its entrance? What appeals do they make? The chorus of Theban senators is fearful of the plague and suppliant toward any god who might relieve the city's plight. The chorus appeals to the gods Apollo, Athena, Artemis, Ares and finally Bacchus/Dionyssius. In what ways does Oedipus criticize his subjects? Oedipus implicitly scolds the chorus for failing to find Laius' killer long ago. Did it take a plague and an oracle to spur Thebes to seek out the criminal? There is perhaps some justification in this criticism. Oedipus' single-mindedness stands in immediate contrast to the hesitation of the Thebans. What initial signs of rashness do we see in Oedipus? Oedipus shows signs of rashness making certain decisions concerning the killer. He invokes the curse on Laius' murderer (which is also against himself) or anyone who is harbouring the criminal. When talking to Tiresias, Oedipus taunts the blind prophet when he tells him information that he doesn't want to believe: that Oedipus is in fact the killer of the king. He makes the prophet give his statement twice. Oedipus mocks his craft and even his blindness. What seems to be Tiresias' philosophical attitude? He is pessimistic and fatalistic. He is a firm believer in destiny and in the god's determining the fate of all beings. What ironies arise in Scene 1? Oedipus discusses his 'kinship' with the late king Laius. Oedipus says that he will search for the killer of Laius as though he were searching for the killer of his own father. Also, there is an ironic undercurrent in the exchanges of Oedipus and Tiresias about blindness. Oedipus mocks Tiresias' literal blindness. In turn Tiresias points out that Oedipus himself is blind even in his sightedness. And, in further paradox, when Oedipus is at last blinded, he will 'see' the horrible truth of his situation. What false conclusions does Oedipus reach as a result of his quarrel with Tiresias? What effect will this conclusion have on Oedipus? He accuses Tiresias of working with Creon to try to take away his power. This shows how Oedipus makes faulty accusations What role does the first senator play in the quarrel? They represent the audience. Theyre trying to ease the tempers of both men. What issues are discussed in the first choral ode? They discuss the unknown killer. They also discuus their confusion with what Tiresias said to Oedipus. They're