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| Ruler of Thebes after Laius' death, son of Laius who killed his father and married his mother, Jocasta. An arrogant ruler who changes throughout the story. |
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| Wife of Laius/Oedipus who does not believe in prophecies at first. |
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| Brother of Jocasta who Oedipus believes vies is trying to dethrone him; becomes king at the end of the story. At the beginning, Creon visits the oracle of Apollo to find out how to cure Thebes of the plague. He returns and says that they must get rid of the killer of the old king Laius. |
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| Oedipus' "adopted" father and ruler of Corinth. Oedipus believes that Polybus is his real father. |
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| Wife of Polybus and Oedipus' "adopted" mother. Oedipus believes that Merope is his real mother. |
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| King of Thebes before Oedipus who was killed by his own son where three roads cross. |
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| Blind prophet who tells Oedipus that he is the murderer he hunts, and Oedipus does not believe him. |
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| Informs Oedipus that Polybus has died and is now the king of Corinth; however, he also tells him that Polybus and Merope are NOT his real parents. He says that Oedipus was given to him as a baby. |
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| Was in the household of Laius and was a devoted servant and shepherd. Only living witness of Laius' death. He tells Oedipus that he was given to him as a baby to be killed, so he took him to Mount Cithaeron where he gave him to the Corinthian messenger to hopefully take him to foreign lands. Jocasta gave him Oedipus. |
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| Tells Oedipus not to banish Creon at the beginning of the story. When Tiresias brings the news, the chorus does not know what to believe, they just want the curse to be gone. They think that it is either true or the gods have failed them with bad prophecies. At the end, they try to comfort Oedipus. |
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| Oedipus' birth parents and adoptive parents |
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Birth: Laius and Jocasta
Adoptive: Merope and Polybus |
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| How Oedipus became Jocasta's husband |
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| Oedipus solved the riddle of the Sphinx, was declared the king of Thebes, and then married Jocasta. |
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| Who Oedipus thinks is out to get his job |
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| Tiresias' prophecy for Oedipus |
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| He would kill his father, marry his mother, and have kids with her. |
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| The problem in Thebes at the beginning of the play and how it can be solved |
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| Thebes is struck by a plague and people are dying. The only way to cure it is to banish Laius' killer. |
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| What Jocasta thinks about prophecies |
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| Does not believe in prophecies at first, but then finds out that it actually became true. When she gave the baby up, she was afraid of prophecies. |
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| How the chorus feels about Oedipus throughout the play and how it changes. |
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| The end and what happens to each character |
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Oedipus: stabs eyes with pins from Jocasta's dress.
Jocasta: Hangs herself
Creon: Becomes the new king of Thebes
Chorus: Tries to comfort Oedipus |
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| Greek tragedies were based on what two things? |
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| Widely-known myths and historical events |
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| What does the name Oedipus mean? |
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| When he solved the riddle of the Sphinx, what was his reward? |
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| He became the king of Thebes. |
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| What is the answer to the riddle of the Sphinx? |
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| What are the two most important influences on Greek drama? |
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| Epics of Homer and tragedy of lyrical poetry |
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| What is the word that comes from the meaning "to do" or "to act?" |
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| What festival in Athens involved playwrights competing for power and glory? |
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| What was the most important convention of the Greek stage? |
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| Wearing of masks and wigs |
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| What is the background setting of most Greek tragedies? |
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| How long is the action of a Greek tragedy? |
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| Greek tragedy resembles a cross between what two things? |
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| Although its influence is unclear, Aristotle wrote one of the most important pieces of literary criticism called the Poetics, in which he originated which concept? |
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| What does catharsis mean? |
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| Cleansing or ritual purification from this pollution. |
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| For Aristotle, watching tragedies was beneficial for both the ___________ and the ____________. |
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| What was the tragedy that most closely fit Aristotle's guidelines? |
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| An act of physical or verbal assault which brings no satisfaction other than the disgrace of another. |
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