Study Questions for Assignment 11 -- Sophocles, Oedipus the King and Oedipus at Colonus
- Be able to summarize the plots of the plays.
Oedipus the King
If a man walks with haughtiness
of hand or word and gives no heed
to Justice and the shrines of Gods
despises--may an evil doom
smite him for his ill-starred pride of heart!
(lines 884-888)
- What is the problem in Thebes as the play opens? What does Apollo say will solve it?
- In the quarrel between Oedipus and Teiresias, what does each accuse the other of? How do the ideas of darkness/light/blindness/sight play into their argument?
- What is ironic about the messenger from Corinth's "good" news?
- Why does Oedipus think Jocasta doesn't want to hear about his origins?
(lines 1056-1073)
- What is the meaning of lines 1526-1530?
There is another meaning to these lines, along with lines 1455-1459, which we will use as a transition to the next play:
Oedipus at Colonus
- Where does this play take place? On whose sacred ground does Oedipus find himself at first? Why is this significant?
- Why do Creon and Polynices come to Oedipus?
- How does Theseus treat Oedipus? What things does he do for him in the play? What reward will he receive for having treated Oedipus this way?
- How had Oedipus changed in this play? What has he learned about himself and his past "crimes"?
Antigone
- What does Antigone do in this play that Creon has forbidden?
- Lines 66-73. What three reasons does Ismene give for not wanting to help Antigone? What is Antigone's response?
- What is Creon's basic position throughout the play (till the end)? What does he think is most important? See lines 202-210, 717-727, 794-800.
- Why does Antigone disobey Creon? Does she think she doesn't need to obey authority? What does she think is most important? See lines 85-88, 103, 494-503, 960-971 Remember also "Oedipus at Colonus."
- Reread the famous "Many are the wonders, none is more wonderful than what is man" speech of the chorus in lines 368-411 Lines 662-666 and 1227-1231. Why is this speech tossed in here? Consider lines 404-408.
- Lines 662-666 and 1227-1231. Compare what is said in them with what is said in 404-408 and 1420-1424. Is everything blind chance according to Sophocles, or does a man's piety affect his life?
- Lines 688-831. How does Haemon first begin reasoning with his father, and how does he change? Why?
- What is Creon's final assessment of his previous attitude? See lines 1191-1192, 1343-1346, 1393-1394, 1413-1415.
- Is Antigone clearly in the right or does she bear some blame in any way?
"The Six-Minute Oedipus" (From A Prairie Home Companion)
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