OEDIPUS REX REVIEW QUESTIONS
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What news does Creon bring from Delphi? ANSW✅✅The oracle told Creon that the death of
Oedipus's predecessor, King Laius, is the cause of the plague. Laius's killer must be found and
expelled from the kingdom.
What is the mood of the chorus upon its entrance? ANSW✅✅The mood of the Theban choral
senators is fearful of the plague and suppliant toward any god who might relieve the city's plight.
What appeals do they make? ANSW✅✅They appeal to Apollo, Athena, Artemis, Ares, and
Dionysus.
In what ways does Oedipus criticize his subjects? ANSW✅✅Oedipus implicitly scolds the chorus
for failing to find Laius's murderer long ago. Oedipus's single-mindedness stands in immediate
contrast to the hesitation of the Thebans.
What initial signs of rashness do we see in Oedipus? ANSW✅✅The decisions he makes concerning
the killer of Laius seem inflexible and interperate. Oedipus invokes the curse on Laius's killer against
himself; considering the uncertainty of the situation, he might have chosen a more moderate course
of action.
What seems to be Tiresias' philosophical attitude? ANSW✅✅He is resolutely pessimistic and
fatalistic; he maintains that the future is fixed and that man can do nothing about it.
What does the priest say to Oedipus? ANSW✅✅He tells him of the plague that is ravaging Thebes.
He begs Oedipus to resolve the crisis. The plague reflects the anger of the gods. The priest seeks to
convince Oedipus that it is in his own self-interest to rid Thebes of the plague.
What qualities do we immediately see in Oedipus? ANSW✅✅Compassionate, proud, efficient,
and intelligent. His compassion creates immediate sympathy with the audience; he sheds tears over
their plight.
, What is the importance of irony in Oedipus the King? ANSW✅✅It builds the suspense by having
the audience aware of the true circumstances while Oedipus blithely goes on about his kingly duties.
What ironies are introduced in the prologue? ANSW✅✅Situational ironies of fate and free will,
illusion and reality. These make powerful philosophical statements about the conflicts.
What ironies arise in the First Episode? ANSW✅✅Ironic statements from Oedipus: when he
discusses his "kinship" with the late King Laius; says he will search for Laius's murderer as if he were
searching for his father's killer; states that his children and Laius's would have shared the same
mother. There is an ironic undercurrent in the barbs Oedipus and Tiresisas exchange about
blindness. Oedipus mocks Tiresias's literal blindness. Tiresias points out that Oedipus himself is blind
even in his sightedness. In a further paradox, when Oedipus is at last blinded, he will see the horrible
truth of his situation.
What false conclusion does Oedipus reach as a result of his quarrel with Tiresias? ANSW✅✅He
jumps to the conclusion that Tiresias has been bribed by Creon to spread lies about Oedipus.
What effect will Tiresias being bribed by Creon to spread lies about Oedipus have on Oedipus?
ANSW✅✅This will affect his own journey toward self-discovery, intensifying the suffering he will
feel when his identity is revealed. This quarrel also sets the stage for a confrontation between
Oedipus and Creon.
What role does the chorus play in the quarrel? ANSW✅✅The chorus seeks to mollify the tempers
of both men.
What issues are discussed in the first ode? ANSW✅✅It first discusses the still-unknown killer of
Laius. Ironically, they visualize the killer as vainly fleeing the wrath of the gods. Then the chorus
expresses its puzzlement regarding Tiresias' allegation.
What does Creon's counterargument to Oedipus's charges reveal about Creon's character?
ANSW✅✅When Oedipus accuses him of treason, Creon manages to keep his anger in check and
reveal a firm capacity for reason. Sensibly enough, Creon points out that he shares the actual power
in the state equally with Oedipus and Jocasta. He already has kingly influence with none of the
anxieties or responsibilities of kingship. These logical arguments strongly contrast with Oedipus's
heated, paranoid charges.
Contrast Oedipus's and Creon's approach to political power. What questions does Sophocles seem to
raise by using this contrast? ANSW✅✅Oedipus holds lofty ideals concerning leadership. To him, a
king must be a steadfast, uncompromising protector of his people. Sophocles offers Creon as a
AND CORRECT ANSWERS
What news does Creon bring from Delphi? ANSW✅✅The oracle told Creon that the death of
Oedipus's predecessor, King Laius, is the cause of the plague. Laius's killer must be found and
expelled from the kingdom.
What is the mood of the chorus upon its entrance? ANSW✅✅The mood of the Theban choral
senators is fearful of the plague and suppliant toward any god who might relieve the city's plight.
What appeals do they make? ANSW✅✅They appeal to Apollo, Athena, Artemis, Ares, and
Dionysus.
In what ways does Oedipus criticize his subjects? ANSW✅✅Oedipus implicitly scolds the chorus
for failing to find Laius's murderer long ago. Oedipus's single-mindedness stands in immediate
contrast to the hesitation of the Thebans.
What initial signs of rashness do we see in Oedipus? ANSW✅✅The decisions he makes concerning
the killer of Laius seem inflexible and interperate. Oedipus invokes the curse on Laius's killer against
himself; considering the uncertainty of the situation, he might have chosen a more moderate course
of action.
What seems to be Tiresias' philosophical attitude? ANSW✅✅He is resolutely pessimistic and
fatalistic; he maintains that the future is fixed and that man can do nothing about it.
What does the priest say to Oedipus? ANSW✅✅He tells him of the plague that is ravaging Thebes.
He begs Oedipus to resolve the crisis. The plague reflects the anger of the gods. The priest seeks to
convince Oedipus that it is in his own self-interest to rid Thebes of the plague.
What qualities do we immediately see in Oedipus? ANSW✅✅Compassionate, proud, efficient,
and intelligent. His compassion creates immediate sympathy with the audience; he sheds tears over
their plight.
, What is the importance of irony in Oedipus the King? ANSW✅✅It builds the suspense by having
the audience aware of the true circumstances while Oedipus blithely goes on about his kingly duties.
What ironies are introduced in the prologue? ANSW✅✅Situational ironies of fate and free will,
illusion and reality. These make powerful philosophical statements about the conflicts.
What ironies arise in the First Episode? ANSW✅✅Ironic statements from Oedipus: when he
discusses his "kinship" with the late King Laius; says he will search for Laius's murderer as if he were
searching for his father's killer; states that his children and Laius's would have shared the same
mother. There is an ironic undercurrent in the barbs Oedipus and Tiresisas exchange about
blindness. Oedipus mocks Tiresias's literal blindness. Tiresias points out that Oedipus himself is blind
even in his sightedness. In a further paradox, when Oedipus is at last blinded, he will see the horrible
truth of his situation.
What false conclusion does Oedipus reach as a result of his quarrel with Tiresias? ANSW✅✅He
jumps to the conclusion that Tiresias has been bribed by Creon to spread lies about Oedipus.
What effect will Tiresias being bribed by Creon to spread lies about Oedipus have on Oedipus?
ANSW✅✅This will affect his own journey toward self-discovery, intensifying the suffering he will
feel when his identity is revealed. This quarrel also sets the stage for a confrontation between
Oedipus and Creon.
What role does the chorus play in the quarrel? ANSW✅✅The chorus seeks to mollify the tempers
of both men.
What issues are discussed in the first ode? ANSW✅✅It first discusses the still-unknown killer of
Laius. Ironically, they visualize the killer as vainly fleeing the wrath of the gods. Then the chorus
expresses its puzzlement regarding Tiresias' allegation.
What does Creon's counterargument to Oedipus's charges reveal about Creon's character?
ANSW✅✅When Oedipus accuses him of treason, Creon manages to keep his anger in check and
reveal a firm capacity for reason. Sensibly enough, Creon points out that he shares the actual power
in the state equally with Oedipus and Jocasta. He already has kingly influence with none of the
anxieties or responsibilities of kingship. These logical arguments strongly contrast with Oedipus's
heated, paranoid charges.
Contrast Oedipus's and Creon's approach to political power. What questions does Sophocles seem to
raise by using this contrast? ANSW✅✅Oedipus holds lofty ideals concerning leadership. To him, a
king must be a steadfast, uncompromising protector of his people. Sophocles offers Creon as a
