Oedipus/Conversation with Creon:
What does Oedipus ask of Creon?
What does Creon mean when he says, "Don't try to be the master
in everything. What you once won and held did not stay with you all
your life long" (83).
1
Name __________________
English 9R Oedipus the King
Oedipus: “Light, let this be the
last time I see you. I stand
revealed-born in shame,
married in shame, an unnatural
murderer.”
C horus: “You whom the same
great harbor sheltered As a
child and father both, How
could the furors which your
father plowed Bear you in
silence for so long? ...You
Significant Passages
How is Oedipus
further
characterized here?
How does the chorus
react to the news?
returned me to life once and
now you have closed my eyes in
darkness.”
Oedipus: “You will not see the
horrors I have suffered and
done. Be dark forever noweyes that saw those you should
never have seen, and failed to
recognize those you longed to
What literary
technique is used
here? How is it
effective?
see.”
Messenger and Oedipus: “He
speaks of banishing himself
from Thebes, says he will not
remain in his house under the
curse which he himself
pronounced.”
How is Oedipus
indirectly
characterized based
on his decision about
himself?
How has Oedipus
changed over the
course of the play?
2
Name: __________________________ English 9R—Oedipus the King
Based on Oedipus’ realizations and changes over the course of the play, he can be considered a complex character. Fill in the following chart based on Oedipus’ character throughout the play. Characterization: Characterization: Characterization: Acts as a leader Assumes all power Gives up power Textual Evidence: Textual Evidence: Textual Evidence: protecting Thebes
decides he will fight for
Laius "as if he was my
father"
asks Creon to banish
and care for his
family
Characterization:
Characterization: Characterization: Wise and Clever Blinded by hubris Blinds himself Textual Evidence: Textual Evidence: Textual Evidence: defeats
Sphinx
argument with
Tiresias
no longer wants to see
Characterization:
Characterization: Characterization: Confident Arrogant/Hubristic Shameful/humbled Textual Evidence: Textual Evidence: argument with Tiresias
can save Thebes
Textual Evidence: asks Creon to banish him
and care for his family
Characterization: Characterization: Characterization: Swift in action Rash/Impulsive Wallows in self­pity Textual Evidence: Textual Evidence: Textual Evidence: cursing people
curses
"pity me"
3
Name __________________ Oedipus the King by Sophocles What are the character’s goals? Oedipus -to know the
truth
-to save
Thebes
Why does the character want these goals? -to save
Thebes from
the plague
-curiosity is
sparked
character willing to do to achieve these Is the character successful in achieving these goals? goals? What is the -ask anyone
for the
truth
YES
-begs and
pleads
NO
How does the character respond to success or failure? -causes his
downfall
-pride builds
up along the way
-stabs his eyes and
demands to be
exiled
Jocasta -to avoid fate
-to protect
Oedipus
Creon -order in
society
-find out the
murderer
-continually
pushes to
hear the
truth
YES
-hangs herself
-quickly agrees
to exile
Oedipus
-we see he
wants power
4
Name ___________________
English 9R
Oedipus the King
Considering Conflicts
Identify at least four conflicts that are introduced in the play. Consider the different kinds of
conflicts—person vs. person, person vs. self, person vs. society, and person vs. nature.
Conflict
Oedipus
vs.
Fate
Oedipus
vs.
Creon
Oedipus
vs.
Self
Oedipus
vs.
Society
Type of Conflict
How is the conflict
initiated?
person
when he
vs.
is born
nature/
supernatural
person
vs.
person
O. asks T.
for the truth
of who killed
Lauis, but O
doesn't
believe him
What is the turning
point of the conflict?
tries to
escape fate
& leave
Corinth
Creon says
he doesn't need
to be king to
have power
person
vs.
self
he was raised
to be a wise &
strong man
-hubris/ pride
person
vs.
society
they look to him for finds out he is the
help- they need
murderer
a hero
finds out
that he is
murderer
How is the conflict
resolved?
finds out
the truth and
realizes he
can't avoid it
Oedipus learns the
truth and asks
Creon to exile him
stabs his
eyes out &
demands
exile
had brought a
curse on himselffollows through
with it
5