Oedipus Rex Essay Questions
Marjories N. Vasquez
Mrs. Vazquezbello
AP English Lang.
5 February 2018
Oedipus Rex Questions
1. A tragic hero, according to Aristotle, contains “anagnoris” a moment of important discovery as well as “catharsis,” feelings of pity felt by the audience (“Tragic Hero”). Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is a true Greek tragedy because it accurately displays these characteristics. The most important discovery of the hero was the realization that he is the son of Laius and Jocasta. “O,O,O, they will all come, all come out clearly! Light of the sun, let me look upon you no more after today!” (Sophocles, 1363-1365). Here anagnoris takes place and he realizes he is his father’s murderer and slept with his mother. By the end of the play, the audience cannot help …show more content…
but feel sorry for Oedipus. The Chorus expresses this pity by stating “Count no mortal happy till he has passed the final limit of his life secure from pain” (Sophocles, 1729-1732). The story started in good spirit and by the end his mother/wife is dead, he finds out he killed his father, he is blind, and he is exiled from the land he once ruled. Therefore, Oedipus is a true tragic hero.
2.
Creon’s actions in the beginning of the play makes it clear to the reader that he is an honest and even-tempered character. For example, after his dispute with paranoid Oedipus, Creon rationally expresses his disinterest in the crown, “And I have naught to fear, but were I king, my acts would oft run counter to my will” (Sopocles, 583-584). By the end of the play, he proves himself to be responsible but most of all forgiving. “I am the one who prepared these things, knowing the joy they have long brought you” (Sophocles, 1498-1499). While he cares for the grieving and injured Oedipus and even promise to care for his children, it shows how generous of a character he really is. Lastly, at Oedipus’s request, Creon exiles him from …show more content…
Thebes.
3. A: The constant reference to vision and eyes is very significant throughout the play. This motif of blindness is symbolic to Oedipus’s quest for knowledge. “Now my curse on the murderer. Whoever he is, a lone man unknown in his crime… let that man drag out his life in agony, step by painful step” (Sophocles, 280-283). Him cursing out the murderer reveals how metaphorically; his sightlessness could mean his unawareness to the truth of who killed Laius.
B: As the story progresses, it is evident blindness can be seen literally in the characters. Dramatically ironic, Teresias is physically blind but can still see Oedipus’s horrible past and future. “Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can’t hurt me or anyone else who sees the light – you can never touch me” (Sophocles, 425-427). Even while he is actually blind, he believes Oedipus is blind as well. After being mocked by him, Teresias predicts Oedipus will be blind and disgraced just as he is.
4.
The riddle of the sphinx symbolizes the inevitable continuity of the human life. This is metaphoric to Oedipus’s life because he too can not avoid his fate and eventual doom. It is dramatic irony for him to have answered the riddle because of his reward. He believes he has achieved his purpose in life but instead put himself on the throne by marrying his mother and killing his father. It is also ironic how he can answer the impossible sphinx riddle but is so unaware of the riddle that is his own existence.
5. After being aware of the end of the story, the beginning of Oedipus’s second speech reveals situational irony. Oedipus is full of pride and believes he is highly wise. “I know you are all sick, yet there is not one of you, sick though you are, that is as sick as myself” (Sophocles, 68-70). His arrogance proves to be ironic because he is not as sage as he thinks. As he goes on his journey to find the murderer, he is unaware that he is the killer. This demonstrates that he is ironically not as intelligent as he prides himself to
be.
6. In Oedipus Rex, the chorus is a group of Thebans to comment on the play. It foreshadows future events as well as advices Oedipus through his journey. “Why, Oedipus, why stung with passionate grief hath the queen thus departed? Much I fear from this dead calm will burst a storm of woes” (Sophocles, 1078-1080). The chorus even manages to convince Oedipus to not banish or execute Creon. In the beginning Sophocles uses the chorus to tell the audience the setting of the play. Throughout the story, they support Oedipus and believe he can fix their problems. As his decisions become erratic, they begin to question his motives, but by the end they feel sorry for him and his horrible.
Mrs. Vazquezbello
AP English Lang.
5 February 2018
Oedipus Rex Questions
1. A tragic hero, according to Aristotle, contains “anagnoris” a moment of important discovery as well as “catharsis,” feelings of pity felt by the audience (“Tragic Hero”). Sophocles’ Oedipus Rex is a true Greek tragedy because it accurately displays these characteristics. The most important discovery of the hero was the realization that he is the son of Laius and Jocasta. “O,O,O, they will all come, all come out clearly! Light of the sun, let me look upon you no more after today!” (Sophocles, 1363-1365). Here anagnoris takes place and he realizes he is his father’s murderer and slept with his mother. By the end of the play, the audience cannot help …show more content…
but feel sorry for Oedipus. The Chorus expresses this pity by stating “Count no mortal happy till he has passed the final limit of his life secure from pain” (Sophocles, 1729-1732). The story started in good spirit and by the end his mother/wife is dead, he finds out he killed his father, he is blind, and he is exiled from the land he once ruled. Therefore, Oedipus is a true tragic hero.
2.
Creon’s actions in the beginning of the play makes it clear to the reader that he is an honest and even-tempered character. For example, after his dispute with paranoid Oedipus, Creon rationally expresses his disinterest in the crown, “And I have naught to fear, but were I king, my acts would oft run counter to my will” (Sopocles, 583-584). By the end of the play, he proves himself to be responsible but most of all forgiving. “I am the one who prepared these things, knowing the joy they have long brought you” (Sophocles, 1498-1499). While he cares for the grieving and injured Oedipus and even promise to care for his children, it shows how generous of a character he really is. Lastly, at Oedipus’s request, Creon exiles him from …show more content…
Thebes.
3. A: The constant reference to vision and eyes is very significant throughout the play. This motif of blindness is symbolic to Oedipus’s quest for knowledge. “Now my curse on the murderer. Whoever he is, a lone man unknown in his crime… let that man drag out his life in agony, step by painful step” (Sophocles, 280-283). Him cursing out the murderer reveals how metaphorically; his sightlessness could mean his unawareness to the truth of who killed Laius.
B: As the story progresses, it is evident blindness can be seen literally in the characters. Dramatically ironic, Teresias is physically blind but can still see Oedipus’s horrible past and future. “Blind, lost in the night, endless night that nursed you! You can’t hurt me or anyone else who sees the light – you can never touch me” (Sophocles, 425-427). Even while he is actually blind, he believes Oedipus is blind as well. After being mocked by him, Teresias predicts Oedipus will be blind and disgraced just as he is.
4.
The riddle of the sphinx symbolizes the inevitable continuity of the human life. This is metaphoric to Oedipus’s life because he too can not avoid his fate and eventual doom. It is dramatic irony for him to have answered the riddle because of his reward. He believes he has achieved his purpose in life but instead put himself on the throne by marrying his mother and killing his father. It is also ironic how he can answer the impossible sphinx riddle but is so unaware of the riddle that is his own existence.
5. After being aware of the end of the story, the beginning of Oedipus’s second speech reveals situational irony. Oedipus is full of pride and believes he is highly wise. “I know you are all sick, yet there is not one of you, sick though you are, that is as sick as myself” (Sophocles, 68-70). His arrogance proves to be ironic because he is not as sage as he thinks. As he goes on his journey to find the murderer, he is unaware that he is the killer. This demonstrates that he is ironically not as intelligent as he prides himself to
be.
6. In Oedipus Rex, the chorus is a group of Thebans to comment on the play. It foreshadows future events as well as advices Oedipus through his journey. “Why, Oedipus, why stung with passionate grief hath the queen thus departed? Much I fear from this dead calm will burst a storm of woes” (Sophocles, 1078-1080). The chorus even manages to convince Oedipus to not banish or execute Creon. In the beginning Sophocles uses the chorus to tell the audience the setting of the play. Throughout the story, they support Oedipus and believe he can fix their problems. As his decisions become erratic, they begin to question his motives, but by the end they feel sorry for him and his horrible.