Think Questions for Scene II, Ode II

1. Why does Oedipus accuse Creon of plotting with Teiresias against him? Who is Creon? How does Creon respond?

2. How is Oedipus able to demonstrate that Teiresias must have been lying?
Can you explain why Teiresias chose to remain silent for so many years?

3. How does Creon defend himself in response to Oedipus' accusation? Does his long explanation sound reasonable to you? Why isn't Oedipus convinced? Why does this explanation make Oedipus even angrier? He calls Creon 'evil incarnate'. Why?

4. How is Oedipus behaving? Even though Oedipus is pursuing the only logical explanation of Teiresias' accusation, how does he appear to everyone on stage? What is Sophocles ironic purpose? Could there be sub-textual explanations for Oedipus' fury?

5. How do the Choragos and Jocasta overcome Oedipus' reluctance to spare Creon? What does it mean for a King to recant his word and admit a mistake- particularly in public?

6. What is Jocasta's opinion of soothsayers? Why? How does she try to calm Oedipus?

7. Describe perepetea #2. What clues implicate Oedipus in Laius' murder? What is the essential clue?

8. How does Oedipus' mood change after he hears the essential clue? This is a key moment in the play. Is he wild and furious when the evidence starts to point at him? How is Sophocles using irony to achieve remarkable effects?

9. Why did Oedipus leave Corinth? Which is the worse horror to Oedipus: incest or parricide?

10. How is even Oedipus' self- disgust ironic (on page 42)?

11. Upon what detail does Oedipus' slim hopes rest? How does Jocasta try to comfort Oedipus?

12. Things are getting worse in Thebes: the plague continues unabated, the King and his chief counselor have quarreled violently in public, Oedipus has been accused of murder, Creon has been accused of conspiracy, at Jocasta has openly scoffed at the validity of Apollo's oracles! How does the Chorus respond to the shocking events? Is Oedipus guilty of 'recklessness'?