1. What is the state of Thebes as the play begins?
2. What does the priest want of Oedipus?
3. Why does the priest think that Oedipus is better able to help Thebes than any other individual?
4. What is Oedipus' reaction to the words of the priest?
5. What does the line "let them all hear it…" (page 7) reveal about Oedipus?
6. What did the Oracle at Delphi tell Creon?
7. Who was Laios and what happened to him? Why is this important to Thebes at the time the play begins?
8. What is foreshadowing? How does it begin to show itself early in the play?
9. What is irony? How does it begin to show itself early in the play?

1. What main literary device is found in the strophe, page 10? Explain.
2. What other literary device is found in the same strophe? Explain.
3. Upon which gods does the Chorus call in order to help Thebes? Why these gods?
4. What is the meaning of the last two lines of the Antistrophe 3, page 12? Why do you think they are said as Oedipus enters?

p. 3 1. lateral - to the side

1. façade - false front
2. chaplets - wreaths
3. suppliants - beggars
4. hearth - fireplace, "home"
5. lamentation - show of sorrow, grief

p. 4 7. preys - feeds upon, devours

1. multitude - many, crowds
2. detestable - hateful
3. immortal - undying

p. 5 11. remedy - cure

p. 6 13. revelation - act of showing the unknown

1. vague - not clear

p. 7 17. defilement - filth, contamination

p. 8 18. pilgrimage - journey, usually religious

1. resolve - decide strongly

p. 9 20. faction - small group

1. avenge - get even
2. compunction - uneasiness due to guilt, hesitation

p. 10 23. strophe - chorus statement in a Greek poem

p. 11 25. afflictions - wounds, injuries

1. pallid - pale, faint in color

p. 12 27. besieger - one who surrounds, captures

1. ravages - overtakes, attacks, overwhelms

1. What three things does Oedipus proclaim about the murder of Laios in Scene 1, pp. 12-13?
2. Who is Teiresias and why does he appear in the play? Who has sent for him?
3. What is ironic about Teiresias?
4. What is Teiresias' reaction when Oedipus asks the seer for his help?
5. How does the mood of the play change with the appearance of Teiresias? What is the meaning of his dialogue on pp. 18-20?
6. Why does Creon's name come into the argument? (p. 20)? Of what does Oedipus accuse Teiresias and Creon?
7. What is ironic/foreshadowing about the lines on pp. 21-22? Why does Teiresias mention Oedipus' parents?
8. What is the meaning of Teiresias' prophecy to Oedipus on pp. 23-24?
9. * What do you think Teiresias thinks of Oedipus by the end of Scene 1?

p. 13 29. edict - law, declaration

1. lustration - ceremonial cleansing
2. lurking - hidden, secret

p. 15 32. expedient - convenient under the circumstances

1. clairvoyant - able to see the future

p. 16 35. pestilence - plague, disease

p. 17 38. temperate - moderate

p. 18 42. proclamation - public announcement

p. 19 44. infamy - disgrace, evil, dishonor

p. 20 45. decrepit - old and weak, falling apart from old age

1. mystic - spiritually symbolic or significant
2. mummery - disguise, mask

p. 21 48. exorcist - one who expels evil spirits

p. 22 51. berthing - a place to rest (pun on "birth")

1. Paraphrase (restate in your own words) the meaning of the Strophe 1 and the Antistrophe, p. 24.
2. Paraphrase the meaning of the Strophe 2, pp. 24-25.
3. Paraphrase the meaning of the Antistrophe 2, p. 25.
4. What is the purpose of alternating the Strophe with the Antistrophe in the Odes? What effect does it give for the reader?
5. What is the purpose of Ode 1? Why is it placed after Scene 1?
6. How does the language of the Ode differ from that of the Scene?
7. * Whose side is the Chorus taking in Ode 1? Against who?

p. 25 54. regicide - the killing of a king

p. 26 55. avail - value, advantage

56. hovers - stands over, flies above circulating

1. How does Creon defend himself against Oedipus' accusations of conspiring with Teiresias to take over the throne?
2. Explain p. 30 - "It is a sentence I should cast my vote for - but not without evidence!" Why is this point important?
3. What is the reaction of Choragos?
4. Why does Oedipus continue to believe that Creon is his enemy?
5. What is Iocaste's reaction to Oedipus' accusations?
6. What "proof" of the falseness of prophecies does Iocaste give Oedipus? Why does she share this incident with Oedipus?
7. What is your reaction to Iocaste's story? Oedipus' reaction?
8. What does Oedpius learn from Iocaste's details?
9. Describe Oedipus' tale, pp. 40-42.
10. As Oedipus and Iocaste relate their stories of prophecy, what conclusions are the readers drawing? What "answers" have you arrived at from these clues?
11. * How does Oedipus' mood and attitude change throughout Scene 2? Why?

p. 28 57. brazen - bold, rude

p. 31 58. scepter - symbol of a ruler or king

1. perquisites - payment
2. anarchy - disorder, lack of government rule

p. 32 61. duplicity - trickery

1. parry - to turn aside, evade, avoid

p. 33 63. incarnate - in physical form

p. 34 64. din - loud noise

1. tumult - confusion

p. 35 66. malice - evil

67. Helios - sun god

p. 37 68. hearsay - unverified information from others

p. 38 69. soothsayer - one who foresees events

p. 40 70. herald - messenger

71. marauders - attackers

p. 42 72. maundering - wandering, rambling

p. 43 73. malediction - curse

p. 44 74. abomination - evil thing

1. What is the meaning of the Strophe 1?
2. What is the Antistrophe 2 saying about the proud leader?
3. What is the Strophe 2 saying outrages the gods, and what will the gods do in reaction?
4. What is the conclusion of the Antistrophe 2?
5. What is the importance of Ode 2 in relationship to the rest of the play?

p. 45 75. reverent - respectful

p. 46 76. begot - gave birth to

1. ordinance - law
2. haughtiness - showing off, acting superior
3. disdain - to show disrespect for
4. levity - lightness, laughter
5. blasphemy - cursing
6. impious - not religious

1. What important news is delivered to Oedipus at the beginning of Scene 3?
2. What was Iocaste doing at the beginning of Scene 3? What is her reaction to the news of Polybus' death? What does this reveal about her character?
3. What is Oedipus' next concern after learning of Polybus' death?
4. What additional news "news" does the messenger give Oedipus?
5. What is the meaning of "Oedipus"? Why is this important?
6. What is Iocaste's reaction to the messenger's "news"? What does her behavior foreshadow for the audience?
7. Why doesn't Oedipus heed Iocaste's warnings not to pursue the news from the messenger further?
8. What does Oedipus think about his origins (p. 56 to the end of Scene 3)?
9. What emotions are present at the end of Scene 3? What does the audience (reader) expect to happen at this point?

p. 49 83. sepulchre - burial vault built of stone

1. Whom is the Chorus addressing in the Strophe pp. 56-57?
2. What question is the Chorus asking in the Antistrophe, p. 57?

p. 58 84. nymphs - lesser gods, young women

1. What transpires between the messenger and the shepherd in this scene?
2. Why does the shepherd try to resist answering Oedipus' questions? What literary device is being used here?
3. Why does Oedipus persist in questioning the old shepherd , even though he has been warned by the shepherd and Iocaste not to go on with his inquiry?
4. Why did Iocaste give the child away to die so many years before?
5. What was the prophecy connected to the baby?
6. Why didn't the shepherd leave the baby to die as intended? What human quality does the shepherd demonstrate when he saves the baby?
7. What does Oedipus realize at the end of Scene 4? What is his reaction? What do you think he will do now? Why?
8. * Why do you think Sophocles put so many metaphors involving light/dark and sight/blindness in Scene 4 especially?

p. 64 85. wretched - lowly

1. What is the meaning of the first four lines of the Strophe 1? What is a paradox? How is paradox used here?
2. What is the metaphor that appears in the Strophe 1 and is repeated throughout the Ode? How does the god Apollo reinforce this image?
3. What happens to light as the play nears its end?
4. What other use of figurative language is used at the end of the Strophe 1?
5. At the beginning of the Antistrophe 1, what metaphor and extended metaphor can be found?
6. In Antistrophe 1, what other literary device can be found?
7. How does the quality of the language change from the scenes to the odes? What sections have more uses of the literary devices? How does the language in the odes differ from the language in the scenes?
8. In Strophe 2, what is the metaphor that occurs throughout (extended metaphor)? In Antistrophe 2, what is the extended metaphor? How does it foreshadow what is to happen in the next section?

1. What news does the Second Messenger bring at the beginning of this scene?
2. How is the evil of Oedipus and Iocaste willed? (p. 65)
3. How does Iocaste punish herself? Why is her punishment self-induced?
4. How does Oedipus punish himself? Why is his punishment self-induced?
5. Why doesn't Oedipus kill himself? Why does he choose blinding?
6. How does Oedipus' punishment embody the Light/Dark imagery used throughout the play?
7. What is ironic about Oedipus and Iocaste's worship of Apollo?
8. Why does the punishment of Iocaste take place off stage, instead of in front of the audience?
9. Although Oedipus has gouged out his sight, what still remains (p. 67, top)? Why is this important?
10. In Antistrophe 2 (p. 70), what does Oedipus wish? Why wasn't the prophecy of the gods respected?
11. What metaphor is used to describe incest (p. 72, middle: "Oh marriage…how evil!")? Why is this an appropriate description?
12. What is Oedipus' attitude about Creon in the Exodos? What does this reveal about Oedpius?
13. What is Creon's attitude about Oedipus in the Exodos? What does this reveal about Creon?
14. Why does Creon say he must consult the Oracle again? Why is this an important difference between Oedipus and Creon?
15. What requests of Creon does Oedipus make on pp. 74-75, top?
16. Describe Oedipus' farewell to his daughters. What is the meaning of the lines on page 75: "Children, where are you…to this way of seeing."?
17. How does the reader know that Creon has accepted responsibility for Oedipus' daughters, Antigone and Ismene? Why is Oedipus so concerned for his daughters and not for his sons?
18. What is the meaning of the last lines by Choragos?
19. What guidance does he give the people in the final lines? What lessons does he offer the reader?
20. * What will become of Oedipus? Will he kill himself or merely be exiled? Why?

p. 67 86. venerate - respect

p. 68 87. vigil - watch, a period of being on guard

p. 73 88. primal - primary, basic, first

p. 74 89. rankness - rotten, offensive smell

1. execrable - harshly denounced

p. 75 91. engendered - caused

1. reproach - to find fault with

p. 76 94. affront - a show of disrespect

1. parricide - killing of a parent

p. 78 97. fount - source, origin

1. What is the theme of the play Oedipus Rex?
2. What is the conflict of the play? How is it resolved?
3. Where is the climax located? Explain why this is the climax.
4. What is the definition of the term "hero"? Who is the hero of the play? How does he fulfill the definition?
5. In what ways is the play a modern play? An ancient play?
6. Choose one line or several lines which you think are very important in the play, and explain what they mean and why you chose them.
7. What is your general reaction to the play as a whole? Explain your answer?
8. Of what "crimes" is Oedipus guilty? Not guilty? Explain.