Oedipus Reading Questions and Answers Grade A+

What is significant about the fact that the first line of the play is a question? - creates a dismal mood, the questioning also prepares us for a play of mystery How does Oedipus choose the spokesman of the group of supplicants? - He chooses the oldest person What is your first impression of Oedipus? - He is arrogant What problem is afflicting Thebes at the time? - A strange plague is causing sickness and suffering crops, herds and unborn children are dying What is the House of Cadmus? - Original name of the city of Thebes (founded by Cadmus) How does the Priest the supplicants view Oedipus? How does this begin to establish Oedipus as an Aristotelian tragic hero? - Priest says they don't view Oedipus as a God, but as the primary of men. This holds with Aristotle's view that a tragic hero had to be a god, demi-god or hero In case we didn’t already know it, what exposition does the Priest provide in this scene? - Priest reminds the audience that Oedipus is the hero who solved the riddle of the sphinx and free the city of Theebes from its bondage Why do the supplicants believe that Oedipus will be able to find a solution to the famine? - Bc he had no human help when he solved the riddle of the sphinx so he must of had divine help. They hope he consults his divine aides and find the cause of the famine Why does Oedipus claim he suffers even more than supplicants? - He says each supplicant suffers only for himself individually but he suffers for the individual subject, his subjects generally and for himself What impression do we get from Oedipus based on his language? - He is very proud and pompous What action has Oedipus taken to find an answer to the city's problem? - Sent Creon to the oracle at Delphi to find out what could be said or done to save the city What is Oedipus and Creon's relationship? - Creon is Oedipus' brother in law-the brother of Queen Jocasta What is foreshadowed by Oedipus' promise to the Priest? - Oedipus promises he will do whatever the oracle commands. This foreshadows he probably will be commanded to do extremely unpleasant of even impossible task to end the famine