SOPHOCLES, KING OEDIPUS
STUDY QUESTIONS
1. Write a one page summary of the plot of this play
2. In lines 69-84, Oedipus talks of himself as a great doctor who knows just the cure for
the peoples ills. What is the irony in line 80?
3. What irony is contained in lines 88-89?
4. When Creon tells Oedipus of the circumstances surrounding Laius’ death, Creon says
that the messenger recounted that it was actually a band of men that killed him.(line 138)
We know that it was Oedipus alone that killed him; why do you think the messenger brought
this false story?
5. To understand lines 154-159, we must understand the concept of the kinsman avenger.
What is a kinsman avenger?
6. What is the irony in lines 154-159?
7. After Oedipus tells the people he has found the way to rid them of the plague, he tells
them to take up the branches of supplication that had been laid. What is the significance
of this?
8. What is the irony in lines 256-260?
9. You will find Sophocles just can’t get enough of playing with the irony in Oedipus
situation! Explain the irony in lines 284-287.
10. What is the irony in lines 301-303?
11. Oedipus has Tiresias the prophet brought to him to shed light on the question of the
killer’s identity. Knowing that Oedipus is the man, Tiresias can only begin by
saying, "How terrible-to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who
sees!" Why is this statement so fitting for Oedipus?
12. In line 401 Tiresias tells Oedipus that in fact he is the "miasma" (blood
stain of guilt). Oedipus will not stand for such a rebuke from the prophet and accuses
Tiresias of conspiracy against him. Oedipus claims he has no need of the services of the
prophet.
13. What reasons does he give for having no need of the prophet? (lines 451-454)
14. Oedipus is also quick to suspect that his brother-in-law Creon had connived to use
Tiresias’ harsh message as a means for ousting Oedipus and claiming the throne for
himself. How does Creon argue that this would be a ridiculous suspicion?
15. For a humorous version of the Oedipus story, see http://phc.mpr.org/performances/19961116/
16. You can find another humorous version by using your real player to listen to the location pnm://www.gbt.org/OedTex.ra