Study questions for Oedipus Tyrannus  (aka Oedipus the King): 

1) Be able to identify the setting, personae and 'complications'. 

	Identify principal characters: Oedipus, Jocasta, Creon, Teiresias, Chorus.

	What is the crisis with which Oedipus is confronted in the opening scene? 

	What new information complicates the situation?


2) How is Oedipus characterized? 

	a) by others (e.g. in words of the Chorus, lines 40-47);

	b) in his own speech (e.g.  in opening prologue).

	c) by his reaction to turn of events: 

		How does he respond to news from Delphi? 

		How does he respond to Teiresias' warning,  315-63.

3) Reversal and recognition: 

	a) At what point does Oedipus begin to suspect his guilt?
		 from what clue(s)?

	b) When is the secret of his birth first suspected?

	c) How does he react upon realizing his relationship to Iocasta?


4) Fatal flaw: is Oedipus responsible for his downfall? 

	a) in view of original audience. 
		(key language, reactions that reveal normative view) 

	b) in view of 'universal audience' (that includes us).