Oedipus Rex Questions and Answers Already Passed

Oedipus Rex Questions and Answers Already Passed What is the situation in Thebes at the beginning of the play? There is a pestilence in the city, and the people are sick and dying. What news does Creon bring to Oedipus? Oedipus must find the killer of former King Laius to save the city. According to Creon, what happened to the former king, Laius? Robbers/thieves killed King Laius while King Laius was out of Thebes (on a pilgrimage). What does Oedipus decide to do about the former king's death? Oedipus decides to avenge King Laius's death and find the killer. Who is Teiresias? Why does Oedipus send for him? Teiresias is a prophet for Apollo, and Oedipus sent for him for help with finding out who the murderer is. Teiresias is blind. What are the rumors about Laius's death? Teiresias accuses Oedipus of killing Laius; however, the other rumors say that robbers attacked/killed Laius. Why is Creon upset with Oedipus? Oedipus blames Creon for framing Oedipus for murder. Oedipus accuses Creon of treason. Why doesn't Creon want to be king? He doesn't want the responsibilities of being king. He already has a king's life, and when people need help, they see Oedipus, not him. What does Oedipus accuse Creon of? What is Creon's punishment for this crime? Oedipus accuses Creon of treason (paying Teiresias to say that Oedipus is murderer). Punishment is banishment or death. According to the Oracle, how was Laius supposed to die, and how was this prevented? Laius was supposed to get killed by his own son. He tried to prevent it by tying up the baby's ankles and having him left on the mountain side to perish. What does Oedipus realize after Queen Jocasta, his wife, tells him where King Laius was killed? He also killed someone in the same location around the same time, which means that it could have been him. What one word will save Oedipus from being guilty of killing King Laius? Why? Robbers- because he was alone that day that he killed the man, so if the servant says it was robbers, it clearly was not Oedipus. Why is Queen Jocasta happy to hear the news about King Polybus? The news that he died of natural death means that Oedipus didn't kill him, which means his oracle did NOT come true. How did King Polybus die? How was he supposed to die? He died of a natural death, but he was supposed to die by his own son, Oedipus. Why would one of King Laius's servants have a baby tied up at its ankles? Laius hired someone to bring the baby to the mountain to perish; he didn't do it himself. Why is Queen Jocasta upset about the messenger's story? Why doesn't she want Oedipus to send for the other servant? She realizes at that moment that Oedipus is her son—he was the baby left and found on the mountain. She doesn't want Oedipus to know about what actually happened, because at this point in the story, he hasn't put it all together yet. Why does Oedipus realize that he has been "sinful