Ancient Literature week of 2/13-1/17/06
These are discussion questions for 2/22/06. Please look at them, jot down notes, and bring to class. Nothing has to be turned in.
Sophocles Discussion Questions
1. Who or what does the chorus represent in this play?
2. Oedipus means “swollen foot”. Leithart says there are many puns in the play related to this. Do you know what any of them are?
3. The Greek Title is Oedipus the Tyrant; the Latin is Oedipus the King. Do tyrant and king mean the same thing? If not, why the discrepancy? Oedipus was certainly a king. Was he also a tyrant?
4. Was Oedipus a religious man?
5. What would you say this play is primarily about?
6. What do you think of Laius’s and Jocasta’s original decision to get rid of Oedipus? Was that an accepted practice in Greece? In the U.S. today? Biblically?
7. Do you detect any improbabilities in the play?
8. In the Eumenides we discussed the political message of the city replacing the
House, contract replacing blood. Do you see a political message in Oedipus Rex?
9. Leviticus 16 speaks of sending out a scapegoat from the camp on the Day of
Atonement. There was a similar Greek religious rite called pharmakos. Do you see any connections between Oedipus and a scapegoat?
10. The Greek view of life as stated by Protagoras was that “Man is the measure of all
things.” Is that the message of this play?
11. Can you name any sin on Oedipus’s part?
12. In this play the truth leads to despair. Does the Bible verse “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32) have any relevance to this play?
13. In about lines 122-125 Creon says there were several robbers and Oedipus speaks of one. Do you see any significance to this?
14. What two crimes did Oedipus commit and how was each an attack on the city.
15. Contrast Creon and Oedipus in lines 532-633.
16.Why doesn’t Oedipus realize that Teiresias is speaking truth in line 353, “you are
the land’s pollution.
17. In lines 435-440 Teiresias says the Oedipus needs to solve a riddle, but the answer
will destroy Oedipus. What is the riddle? Who bred Oedipus?
18. What does Oedipus mean when he says, “O generations of men, how I count you
as equal with those who live not at all!”?
19. How is Oedipus like Teiresias at the end of the play?
20. Do you see a connection between “mountain bull” in 478 and Oedipus’s actions in 1253-1271?
21. What is significance of Creon saying in line 1522, “Do not seek to be master in everything.” 22. Do the concluding lines of the chorus (1524-1530) remind you of any scripture?
23. Does this play teach truth or untruth?
Sophocles Discussion Questions
1. Who or what does the chorus represent in this play?
2. Oedipus means “swollen foot”. Leithart says there are many puns in the play related to this. Do you know what any of them are?
3. The Greek Title is Oedipus the Tyrant; the Latin is Oedipus the King. Do tyrant and king mean the same thing? If not, why the discrepancy? Oedipus was certainly a king. Was he also a tyrant?
4. Was Oedipus a religious man?
5. What would you say this play is primarily about?
6. What do you think of Laius’s and Jocasta’s original decision to get rid of Oedipus? Was that an accepted practice in Greece? In the U.S. today? Biblically?
7. Do you detect any improbabilities in the play?
8. In the Eumenides we discussed the political message of the city replacing the
House, contract replacing blood. Do you see a political message in Oedipus Rex?
9. Leviticus 16 speaks of sending out a scapegoat from the camp on the Day of
Atonement. There was a similar Greek religious rite called pharmakos. Do you see any connections between Oedipus and a scapegoat?
10. The Greek view of life as stated by Protagoras was that “Man is the measure of all
things.” Is that the message of this play?
11. Can you name any sin on Oedipus’s part?
12. In this play the truth leads to despair. Does the Bible verse “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free” (John 8:32) have any relevance to this play?
13. In about lines 122-125 Creon says there were several robbers and Oedipus speaks of one. Do you see any significance to this?
14. What two crimes did Oedipus commit and how was each an attack on the city.
15. Contrast Creon and Oedipus in lines 532-633.
16.Why doesn’t Oedipus realize that Teiresias is speaking truth in line 353, “you are
the land’s pollution.
17. In lines 435-440 Teiresias says the Oedipus needs to solve a riddle, but the answer
will destroy Oedipus. What is the riddle? Who bred Oedipus?
18. What does Oedipus mean when he says, “O generations of men, how I count you
as equal with those who live not at all!”?
19. How is Oedipus like Teiresias at the end of the play?
20. Do you see a connection between “mountain bull” in 478 and Oedipus’s actions in 1253-1271?
21. What is significance of Creon saying in line 1522, “Do not seek to be master in everything.” 22. Do the concluding lines of the chorus (1524-1530) remind you of any scripture?
23. Does this play teach truth or untruth?
posted by Ancient Literature & History at 6:44 PM
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