Things to Consider:

• Roles of Gods/Roles of Humans in Fate
• Roles of Prophets
• Relation of Character to Plot
• Images of Vision
• Oedipus vs. Gilgamesh/Agamemnon/Priam/Achilles
• Dramatic Irony
• Roles of Women: Iliad vs. Oedipus
• Role of Chorus
• Sigmund Freud
• Interesting Essay on Oedipus and Sphinx 

• How does Oedipus come to rule Thebes? 
• What kind of king is Oedipus?

• What is the cause of the plague? How does this plague compare with that found in the Iliad?

• What is the role of the Chorus?

• What does Oedipus think is the reason that Creon urges Tiresias to blame Oedipus?

• Explain:
Truly Zeus and Apollo are wise
and in human things all knowing;
but amongst men there is no
distinct judgement, between the prophet
and me—which of us is right (552-56)

• How does Jocasta initially react to Oedipus's claims?

• Why has Oedipus killed Laius? Is he justified?  Explain.

• Why does Oedipus ask for a sword when he is looking for Jocasta?
• Why does Oedipus blind himself? Is it indeed an act of "free will and heroism," as Bayton suggests (201)?
• Why does he do it the way he does?

• Explain:  "It was Apollo, friend, Apollo, / that brought this bitter bitterness, my sorrows to completion" (1405-6).

• Is Oedipus's suffering really undeserved, as Bayton suggests (201)?

• Why do the citizens come to Oedipus's palace?

• Who is the Sphinx?

• Who is Tiresias? 

• How does Creon respond to Oedipus's claims?

• Why, at this point, can't Oedipus be sure that he killed Laius?

• Why does the messenger from Corinth believe that the news of Polybus's death will bring joy to Oedipus and Jocasta?

• Explain:  "Why should man fear since chance is all in all / for him, and he can clearly foreknow nothing?" (1041-42).
• Explain:  "Before this, in dreams too, as well as oracles, / many a man has lain with his own mother" (1045-46).

• Why does Oedipus call himself the "child of fortune, / benficent fortune" (1154-55)?  What does that mean?

• Why does the messenger say that the palace can't be washed clean by either the Ister (Danube) or the Phasis?  What does he mean?

• Explain:  "It is unfit to say what is unfit / to do" (1473-74).
• Explain Creon's speech (1496-96).