OEDIPUS REX QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the situation in Thebes at the beginning of the play? - Answers :Women could
not have children, disease was killing a lot of people and crops and cattle were dying.
What news does Creon bring to Oedipus? - Answers :A murderer is living in Thebes.
According to Creon, what happened to the former king, Laius? - Answers :He got killed
by bandits.
What does Oedipus decide to do about the former king's death? - Answers :Find and kill
or exile the murderer.
Who is Teiresias? - Answers :A blind prophet.
Why does Oedipus send for Teiresias? - Answers :To ask who the murderer is.
Why is Creon upset with Oedipus? - Answers :Oedipus accused Creon of treason.
What is Creon's punishment for his crime? - Answers :Exile.
Why doesn't Creon want to be king? - Answers :He has money and power already and
doesn't want the stress of ruling.
According to the Oracle, how was the Laius supposed to die, and how was this to be
prevented? - Answers :Oedipus was supposed to be killed as a baby.
Why is Queen Jocasta upset about the messenger's story? - Answers :She realizes that
Oedipus is her son.
Why doesn't Queen Jocasta want Oedipus to send for the other servant? - Answers
:Oedipus would find out that Jocasta is his mother.
Why does Oedipus realize that he has been "sinful in my begetting, sinful in marriage,
sinful in shedding of blood!" (45)? - Answers :He married his mother and killed his
father.
Why does Oedipus punish himself instead of killing himself? - Answers :He wants to
suffer.
What does Oedipus ask of Creon and why? - Answers :To see his kids, banish him and
give Jocasta a proper burial.
Who is Oedipus most concerned about? - Answers :His daughters.
What is the situation in Thebes at the beginning of the play? - Answers :Women could
not have children, disease was killing a lot of people and crops and cattle were dying.
What news does Creon bring to Oedipus? - Answers :A murderer is living in Thebes.
According to Creon, what happened to the former king, Laius? - Answers :He got killed
by bandits.
What does Oedipus decide to do about the former king's death? - Answers :Find and kill
or exile the murderer.
Who is Teiresias? - Answers :A blind prophet.
Why does Oedipus send for Teiresias? - Answers :To ask who the murderer is.
Why is Creon upset with Oedipus? - Answers :Oedipus accused Creon of treason.
What is Creon's punishment for his crime? - Answers :Exile.
Why doesn't Creon want to be king? - Answers :He has money and power already and
doesn't want the stress of ruling.
According to the Oracle, how was the Laius supposed to die, and how was this to be
prevented? - Answers :Oedipus was supposed to be killed as a baby.
Why is Queen Jocasta upset about the messenger's story? - Answers :She realizes that
Oedipus is her son.
Why doesn't Queen Jocasta want Oedipus to send for the other servant? - Answers
:Oedipus would find out that Jocasta is his mother.
Why does Oedipus realize that he has been "sinful in my begetting, sinful in marriage,
sinful in shedding of blood!" (45)? - Answers :He married his mother and killed his
father.
Why does Oedipus punish himself instead of killing himself? - Answers :He wants to
suffer.
What does Oedipus ask of Creon and why? - Answers :To see his kids, banish him and
give Jocasta a proper burial.
Who is Oedipus most concerned about? - Answers :His daughters.
