Oedipus the King Pages 274 - 280

Lines 291 - 300 Even if god had never urged you on to act, how could you leave the crime uncleansed so long? A man so noble---your king, brought down in blood--- you should have searched. But I am the king now, I hold the throne that he held then, possess his bed and a wife who shares our seed … why, our seed might be the same, children born of the same mother might have created blood-bonds between us if his hope of offspring hadn’t met disaster--- but fate swooped his head and cut him short.

How does the passage confirm Oedipus’ fate? He has married his mother The final part of the oracle has been predicted If Laius had fathered children before his death, Oedipus would be their stepfather

Agenor Father of Cadmus Founder of the line: their power and mine are one

Tiresias Blindness symbolizes inner sight Inner vision is regarded as more important than physical sight Knows information hidden from other mortals

Lines 359 - 362 Tiresias: How terrible---to see the truth when the truth is only pain to him who sees! I knew it well, but I put it from my mind, else I never would have come. What does Tiresias mean? He means that he sees the truth that will hurt Oedipus.

Dreadful Secrets Why does Tiresias tell his “dreadful” secrets? Tiresias knows Oedipus his a powerful man Tiresias knows his secret will enrage Oedipus

Oedipus’ interrogation of Tiresias Page 276 Will it turn out to be useless? The mystery will be revealed by obtaining the message plucked from the birds. (By studying the internal organs of dead birds) (Metaphor) Oedipus is convinced Tiresias is bent on destroying Thebes Interrogation is a vital part of the story

New attributes about Oedipus He is now quick to judge others. (Tiresias) He now becomes angry quicker. (Tiresias “dreadful” secrets) Convinced that Tiresias is making up the story

Oedipus taunting Tiresias about his blindness Shows how conceited and arrogant Oedipus is Shows Oedipus’ unwillingness to accept a seer’s wisdom Belies Oedipus’ statement that he would do anything to help his country

Augury Practice of divination, or telling the future Tiresias, a seer, would make predictions based on omens, rune stones, and the flight patterns of birds Comparable to modern-day psychics who use crystal balls and tarot cards