I need the following questions answered in a sentence or two. I need correct answers, doesn’t need to be long.

Please use the following link to access the reading.All lines correspond to the assignment.

http://web.archive.org/web/20110216233443/http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccer-new2?id=SopOedi.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=1&division=div1

Oedipus lines 1-308

1.Give details of how the chorus describes the city to the gods

2.Why did the citizens of Thebes not investigate Laius’s murder at the time it occurred?

3. When Creon arrives from Delphi, what does Oedipus insist that he do? What does this indicate about Oedipus’s character?

4 What problem is afflicting Thebes at this time?

5 Why does Oedipus claim he suffers even more than the other citizens?

6 What is your first impression of Oedipus? What characteristics of Oedipus are you aware of after he gives the opening speech?

7 What does Oedipus promise to do? Why, according to Oedipus, must his resolution be strong?

8 Reread Oedipus’s long speech beginning at line 217. What is his tone?

9 Why have the Priest and many citizens gathered as supplicants, and how do they view Oedipus? How does this view contribute to Oedipus’s status as a classic tragic hero?

10 What does Oedipus order his citizens to do? In what ways does he give them incentive to cooperate?

11 About the killer, Oedipus states, “And I pray, if he should be known to me/and share in my hearth among my family,/that I suffer all that I called upon these.” Explain why this is an important moment in the play.

12 What is Oedipus’s reaction to Creon’s information?

13 In case we didn’t already know it, what exposition does the Priest provide in in the scene?

14 What action has Oedipus taken to find an answer to the city’s problem?

15 Why do the supplicants believe that Oedipus will be able to find a solution to the famine?

16 What theory does Oedipus immediately develop about Laius’s death?

17 What happened to Laius, the former king? How did the city receive an account of the events?

18 What does Creon report from the Oracle?

19 Why do you suppose Creon wants to talk to Oedipus in private first?

20 How does Oedipus choose the spokesman from the group of supplicants?

Lines 309-685

1 Why does Tiresias at first seem to refuse to help Oedipus?

2Explain what Tiresias means by his first statement to Oedipus. “Alas, alas,. what misery to be wise/When wisdom profits nothing!”

3 What terrible thing does Oedipus accuse Tiresias of doing? How does he further insult the seer?

4 How does Oedipus feel about Tiresias’ behavior? Why does he think Tiresias has a specialresponsibility to help the city?

5 What previous situation does Oedipus criticize Tiresias for failing to help? How does Oedipus say hesolved the problem as opposed to how Tiresias would have?

6 Goaded into anger by Oedipus, what does Tiresias tell him?

7 Why does Tiresias say that Oedipus, of all people, should understand his riddles?

8 Although there is confusion about which one to believe, Tiresias or Oedipus, whom does the chorussupport? Why?

9 In what ways is Oedipus blind or will he be blind according to Tiresias?

10 In what way does Creon’s behavior contrast with Oedipus’?

11 What does Oedipus accuse Creon of doing? On what does Oedipus base this accusation?

12 What does Creon say that persuades Jocasta to urge Oedipus to believe him?

13 Why does Jocasta believe Oedipus and Creon should be ashamed of themselves?

14 How does Oedipus characterize what the chorus is asking of him?

15 Why does Oedipus decide to let Creon go?

16 What is the chorus’ opinion of Tiresias? How does Oedipus describe him when greeting him?

17 What does Oedipus mean by the statement, “even if you cannot see, you still understand/what sicknessplagues our city”?

18 What is Oedipus’ reaction to Tiresias’ revelations? What alternative ways does he explain why Tiresiaswould make them?

19 What arguments does Creon use to defend himself?

20 How does the chorus defend Oedipus against Creon’s anger?

Lines 685-911

1 What advice does the chorus give Jocasta when she inquires about the details of the argument betweenher husband and brother?

2 Does Jocasta follow the advice?

3. Do you find anything unusual about Jocasta’s initial reaction when Oedipus reveals the accusationagainst him? Why or why not?

4 What is Jocasta’s opinion of soothsayers? On what does she base this opinion?

5 What happened to the servant who survived the attack on Laius?

6 Why did Oedipus kill the men at the crossroads?

7 How has Oedipus cursed himself? What does he prefer to this doom?

8 How will Oedipus determine if he was the man who killed Laius?

9 What details that Jocasta reveals of Laius’ death trouble Oedipus?

10 What does Oedipus relate about his past to explain his fears?

11 What character trait does Oedipus’s killing of Laius reinforce?

12 What acts of hubris do Oedipus and Jocasta commit?

13 What is similar about why Laius attempted to kill his child, and why Oedipus fled Corinth? What doeseach action tell you about his belief in fate or free will?

14 After questioning Jocasta about the details of Laius’ death, what does Oedipus suspect? Why is this asignificant moment in the play?

15 What concerns does the Chorus have about the current states of religious belief?

Lines 912-end

1 Why is Oedipus excited by the messenger’s information? Who does he insist on questioning?

2 How does Creon treat Oedipus in this final section?

3 Without changing scenes, how do we learn of all the action that occurred in the castle?

4 Explain the various reasons why the shepherd is experiencing so much despair.

5 What does the servant report Oedipus says to explain the terrible deed he performs?

6 During the dialogue between Oedipus and the shepherd, what happens to their lines as they get closerand closer to the revelation of the truth?

7 How does the new information come into conflict with Jocasta’s previously expressed beliefs? ( hint Remember what she said about soothsayers?)

8 In what way is Oedipus heroic?

9 Explain what Jocasta means when she says, “Now we are all afraid, seeing him/so shaken, who is pilotof our ship.”

10Besides exile, what else does Oedipus ask of Creon?

11 The shepherd urges Oedipus not to inquire further about the truth. Who else has urged the same ofOedipus earlier in the play?

12 How does Oedipus react to the news of Polybus’ death? What does he fear?

13 When Oedipus protests Creon’s request that he let go of his daughters, how does Creon respond?Explain how the relationship between Creon and Oedipus has been altered in the course of the play.

14How is the shepherd identified when he arrives?

15How does the shepherd react when the messenger identifies Oedipus as the child they exchanged?

16 How did the shepherd receive the child and why?

17 Why is Jocasta pleased at the news of Polybus’s death?

18 Why is Oedipus concerned about his daughters’ futures and not his sons?

19 Why does Oedipus wish the shepherd dead?

20 What do you think Oedipus was trying to do when he found Jocasta?

21 How do you feel about Oedipus? Do you see him as a victim of a cruel fate or as a man who was atleast partly to blame for his own sorrow?

22 Why must Oedipus seek Creon’s permission to go into exile? Why does Creon not grant itimmediately?

23 In response to the chorus, what god does Oedipus say is involved with his sorrows? Where did thisgod’s influence end?

24 According to the servant, what does Oedipus lack that prevents him from exiling himself?

25 What does Oedipus mean when he declares himself “Fortune’s favorite child? Why is this an example ofdramatic irony?

26 What is the tone of the chorus now?

27 What is Jocasta’s reaction to this new information from the messenger? Why does she react in thisway?

28 According to the chorus when is the only appropriate time to call a man “blessed”?

29 Why did the shepherd not do as he was told?

30 Why does Creon want Oedipus taken into the house?