SHORT ANSWERS - OEDIPUS REX BY SOPHOCLES

SHORT ANSWERS - OEDIPUS REX BY SOPHOCLES

QUESTION NO. 1

Answer the following questions. 

(i) How did Oedipus save Thebes before becoming its king?

Ans. A Sphinx had been terrorizing Thebes for and undisclosed amount of time. It placed a great plague over Thebes and refused to remove it until someone correctly answered its riddle. Many heroes attempted to answer the riddle, but each one was eaten alive after answering incorrectly. When Oedipus answered the Sphinx, it killed itself.

(ii) What was the riddle posed by Sphinx to Oedipus?

Ans. The riddle posed by Sphinx to Oedipus was, "What goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at noon, and three feet in the evening?" When Oedipus gave the correct answer, "man", the Sphinx threw itself off a cliff and died.

(iii) Why do the Thebans come to Oedipus?

Ans. A procession of priests, who are in turn surrounded by the impoverished and sorrowful citizens of Thebes comes to Oedipus. Thebes has been struck by a plague, the citizens are dying, and no one knows how to put an end to it. Oedipus asks a priest why the citizens have gathered around the palace. The priest responds that the city is dying and asks the king to save Thebes.

(iv) What do Thebans think of Oedipus as their king?

Ans. Thebans think that Oedipus is an intelligent and decent king who cares deeply for his people. When Thebes has been struck by a plague, they gather around his palace so that Oedipus may save them from the calamity. 

(v) Who is Creon?

Ans. Creon is the brother of queen Jocasta, the wife of King Laius as well as Oedipus. He goes to the oracle at Delphi to seek Apollo's advice in saving Thebes from plague. He is accused by Oedipus of conspiring with Tiresias to take the crown from Oedipus. He becomes king in the end when Jocasta kills herself and Oedipus blinds himself.

(vi) Why did Creon go to the Oracle?

Ans. He went to the Oracle at Delphi to seek Apollo's advice in saving Thebes from plague. He wanted to know the cause and remedy of the plague from Apollo.  

(vii) What message did Creon bring from Delphi Oracle?

Ans. Creon brought the message from Delphi Oracle that the gods had caused the plague in Thebes in response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of Thebes. The gods had demanded that the murdered (the pollution of this land) should be killed or exiled. The plague would be lifted after the completion of the task.

(viii) Who was Laius?

Ans. Laius was the king of Thebes before Oedipus. He was married to his distant cousin, Jocasta. Apollo's oracle played a leading role in his reign. When Apollo warned that his son would kill him, Laius was determined that this was not to be. When his son, Oedipus, was born, Laius tied his feet together and left him to die on a mountain. Many years later while on vacation, Laius was killed by Oedipus, who had survived.

(ix) Define Chorus.

Ans. Chorus is a group of singers who stand alongside or off stage from the principal performers in a dramatic or musical performance. In ancient Greece, the chorus was originally a group of male singers and dancers who participated in religious festivals and dramatic performances by singing and commenting on the deeds of the characters and interpreting the significance of the events within the play. The leader of the chorus was called Charogos.

(x) To which three gods does the Chorus pray for help?

Ans. The Chorus prays to the gods Appollo, Athena, and Artemis for help.

(xi) What is Creon's defense against the accusations against him?

Ans. Creon argues that it does not make sense that he would try to overthrow Oedipus. He already shares a large amount of the authority as part of the de facto triumvirate made of Oedipus, Jocasta and himself. He thinks it would be silly to pursue through violence and hassle a crown when he already has the power. As he lacks the ambition for that, he thinks the claims are unfounded. 

(xii) Who is Choragos?

Ans. Choragos is the "leader" of the Chorus. He does most of the talking in the Chorus. The rest of the Chorus chants or repeats what he says, but he is clearly the leader. He is the voice of reason. He introduces Tiresias and urges Oedipus to listen to him. He also urges other characters to avoid extremes, to practice moderation, and see and hear the truth.

(xiii) Why did Oedipus and Laius confront?

Ans. There was a Delphic Oracle about Oedipus that he would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother. Oedipus and his father Laius confront to initiate the fulfillment of the prophecy.  

(xiv) Why did Oedipus kill Laius where the three roads meet?

Ans. Oedipus's killing of Laius was predestined. The three roads represents past, present and future. Oedipus was pushed along by the irreversible flow of time. So he kills his father, Laius, at a place where three roads meet in the name of self-defense.

(xv) What was the prophecy about Oedipus?

Ans. The prophecy of Delphic Oracle about Oedipus was that he would grow up to kill his father and marry his mother.

Notes Prepared By: Prof. Shahbaz Asghar