1. Fate: Final outcome.  Oedipus’ fate was to kill his father and wed his mother.
2. Free will: The freedom of having determination.
3. Hubris: Pride
4. Filial respect: Special consideration relating to son or daughter.
5. Oracle: Divine words, place Gods give truths. (Oedipus would kill his father with his own hands and wed and share his mother’s bed.
6. Impious actions: Not religious.  (Not paying mind to the oracle.)
7. Compunction: uneasiness due to guilt.
8. Clairvoyant: Able to see the future.
9. Malediction: A curse.
10. Blasphemy: Cursing.

Part II: Why is each place significant in the play?

1. Delphi: Where the three roads meet.  Where Oedipus killed his father.
2. Corinth: The town where Oedipus grew up.
3. Thebes: Where Oedipus lives and is now king.
4. Kithairon: The mountain where Oedipus was handed over to another shepered to be cared for.
5. Iocaste’s bed: Place where Oedipus was born and later his own children.  Place where incest took place.

Part III: Write a 200 word essay.  Respond to one of the following topics, using specific examples from the text and page numbers to back up your statements.

A. How does “Oedipus Rex” fulfill the requirements for a Greek tragedy?

        Oedipus by Sophocles fulfills the requirements for a Greek tragedy.  Oedipus is the story of a tragic hero whose fatal flaws lead to his down fall.  Three elements of a Greek tragedy are fatal flaws, fate, and Geek law.
        Oedipus a hero and king to Thebes, a good man, and husband.  In the play Oedipus questions people to reveal the truth.  Oedipus goes out of his way to find out the truth about king Laios’ death and who murdered him.
An oracle told Oedipus’ fate before he was born.  The oracle was said that Oedipus would murder his own father with his bare hands, and wed his mother and bare children with her.  While searching for answers about the murder of the former king of Thebes king Laios, Oedipus found himself in search of who he really was and where him came from.  Even though Oedipus tried to avoid the oracle by leaving the town of Corinth and the parents who he once knew were his own, the oracle was destined.
        In the Greek law a person is responsible for his or her own actions.  In this case Oedipus was responsible for his own actions and the actions of his mother and father, king Laios and Iocaste.  Even though king Laios and Locaste bond his feet together and left Oedipus to die to avoid the oracle.  And Oedipus leaving Corinth also to avoid the oracle because they knew they could change the fate.  They did not know that this would only take them a step closer to their destiny.
 

Part IV: Pick one and write a 2-page dialogue as you imagine it would sound.

A. Laios and Iocaste when they hear the horrible prophesy of their baby’s future.
 

Iocaste enters her chambers to an awaiting King Laios
 

Laios:  Why have you send for me? What do you want? Make it quick I have things to attend to, so out with it.

Iocaste:  My Lord, I have news

Laios:  Out with it women

Iocaste:  I am with child

Laios:  Are you sure?

Iocaste:  Yes, How can one not be sure with a situation such as this one.

Laios:  But this cant be

Iocaste: But it is

Laios:  We must get rid of it, we can’t take the risk of the oracle coming true we cant!

Iocaste:  My Lord but you can not be serious I will not give up one of my own

Laois:  One of your own!  Women!  Do you rather wed your child and bare his children?

Iocaste:  No…

Laios:  Well, I don’t want to die at the hands of my own child! ! !  You will bare the child but no one must know and when he is born we will get rid of him!

Iocaste:  But my Lord… How…

Laios: ENOUGH! My mind is made up not another word of the matter is to be said!  Do you understand?

Iocaste: Yes

Laios:  Very well than, you are to remain in your chambers for the rest of the night

King Laios leaves Iocaste with her thoughts and tears