Questions on Scenes 1 and 2 Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex : Questions on Scene 1/Ode

1.Summarize Oedipus’s first speech in Scene 1.
2.How do you respond to Oedipus’s curse ? What does it say about human knowledge that Oedipus, renowned for his intelligence, cannot see what is plain to us, with our hindsight ?
3.Oedipus thinks of himself as a « stranger » to the city and to the royal house. Why is this a tragic mistake ?
4.Does Teiresias sound reasonable ? Is Oedipus justified in feeling infuriated ?
5.What do you think is revealed in Scene 1 as one of Oedipus’s flaws ?
6.Is Oedipus’s suspiciousness based on reasonable (even if ultimately false) conjecture ?
7.What does Teiresias imply about the role of seer ?
8.What does Oedipus accuse Teiresias of ? Why do you think he does this ?
9.How does the audience understand Teiresias in a way Oedipus does not ?
10.Give specific examples of Oedipus’s arrogance in this scene.
11.Summarize Teiresias’s prophecy in this scene.
12.One of the ironies of the play is that the structure of its plot is essentially comic, that is suited to a story with a happy ending. Normally, the stranger who proves to be a citizen gains rewards. What does Teiresias say will happen to this « stranger » ?
13.What does the metaphor « a fellow sower in his father’s bed » mean ?
14.Why does the Chorus seem not to understand Teriesias’s prophecy, which to us seems quite explicit ?
15.Oedipus has represented himself as a « tracker. » What is the effect of the Chorus speaking of itself now as a tracker, or a pack of hunting hounds ?
16.Why is the Chorus reluctant to believe Teiresias ? On what is the Thebans’ allegiance to Oedipus based ?


Questions on Scene 2/Ode of Oedipus Rex

1. How do you react to Oedipus’ outburst ? How has Oedipus moved from conjecture to certainty ? Is he justified ?
2. What is the irony of Oedipus’ use of hunting images to describe Creon’s supposed ambition ?
3. What does the exchange between Oedipus and Creon remind you of ?
4. What does Creon mean when he says that he doesn’t want to be king ?
5. What is Oedipus really saying to the Chorus in lines 137-138 ?
6. Is there a metaphor in lines 169-170 ? If so, what is it ?
7. What is Jocasta’s view of prophets ? Is it similar to Oedipus’ view ?
8. How does Oedipus interpret Jocasta’s speech ?
9. Discuss Oedipus’ reaction to Apollo’s prophecy when he heard it (p. 1242).
10. What do you feel about Oedipus’ attempt to take action rather than submit passively to his fate ?
11. React to the gods’ malevolence.
12. Why does Oedipus seem less certain that he’s the murderer ?
13. Analyze Jocasta’s speech.
14. Who is the « I/me » in Strophe 1 ?
15. Summarize the Antistrophe.
16. Why might it be less frightening to believe that there is some divine plan or unuversal order, even if it is terrible, rather than thinking good and bad fortune are purely random ?
17. Of what does the Chorus try to convince Oedipus about knowledge ?
18. What role does the Chorus play in heightening the dramatic tension of this play ?