If you are looking for the beginning of the study for Oedipus the King then you can go HERE for a brief introduction. At the bottom of the introduction you will find the links to each section of the study guide as it becomes available. For an introduction to Sophocles’ Three Theban Plays, and the concept of tragedy as a genre, you can click HERE. If you would like to see the growing list of available book studies you can go HERE. Enjoy!
Grammar Questions: (The Information of the Text)
What, according to the Corinthian Messenger, was unable to wash clean the royal house of Thebes? (Lines 1351-1361)
What became of Jocasta? (Lines 1395-1401)
What terrible punishment did Oedipus inflict upon himself and how did he do it? (Lines 1402-1414)
What would “even his [Oedipus’] mortal enemy” pity? (Lines 1430-1432)
Whom did Oedipus charge with having “ordained” his suffering? (Lines 1467-1473)
To whom did leadership of the city fall once Oedipus was no longer fit to rule? (Lines 1550-1553)
What did Oedipus request Creon to do with him? (Lines 1571-1572)
What kindness did Creon show to Oedipus before exiling him from the city? (Lines 1600-1617)
What did Oedipus believe would be the fate of his daughters because of his crimes? (Lines 1621-1644)
What, according to the Chorus, is the lesson to be learned from Oedipus’ tragic life? (Lines 1683-1684)
Logic Questions: (Interpreting, Comparing/Contrasting, Reasoning)
What did Oedipus mean when he said he had committed “crimes too huge for hanging”? (Lines 1503)
How did Sophocles make use of “anthropomorphism” (attributing human qualities to a non-human entity) in lines 1531-1537?
Creon said “in such a crisis it’s better to ask precisely what to do.” (Lines 1578-1579) Why might he be hesitant to act quickly and without consulting the gods?
Rhetoric Questions: (The Analysis of Ideas in the Text)
Oedipus said, “stab of memory raking me insane.” (Line 1455) To what extent can our memory cause us suffering? Is there any way to avoid suffering when we still remember horrible things from our past? Explain your answer.
The Chorus says to Oedipus, “you understand so much…I wish you had never known.” (Line 1481-1482) Is it better to know or to remain in ignorance when knowing brings us suffering? Make your case with reason.
In lines 1675-1677 do you think Creon is mocking and gloating over Oedipus? Why or why not?
Theological Analysis: (Sola Scriptura)
Compare and contrast the fate of Oedipus with the fate of Samson in Judges 16. What similarities do you notice? What important difference would you draw out between their stories?
Read Ezekiel 45:18-20; Acts 3:17-21; and Acts 17:30-31. What does God say we ought to do about sins committed in ignorance? Is there any hope of forgiveness for such things?
Virtues/Vices/Great Ideas: (Find them in the Text)
Death, Fate, Despair, Being/Needing a Guide