The chorus acts as a link between the audience and the actors. They are a reflection of what the audience is thinking. In ‘Oedipus the King the Chorus is made up of citizens of Thebes. They can comment, advise,.disagree with what is being said

1-supporting unity of time by summarizing the historical back ground of the problem.

Come and listen to a story about a troubled king, A story so unique for him this song we sing Never knew how troubled he was, And that's why his name is pus. (Oedipus, that is.)

Look at my life, Isn't it neat? Wouldn't you think my family tree is complete? Wouldn't you think I'm a king? A King who has, everything. Look at these holes Stories untold How many secrets can one family hold? Lookin' around here you think, "Sure, he's got everything." My mother's my wife and my honey, I killed my father, want more? You want holes in my feet? I've got plenty. (Actually two) But who cares, no big deal, I want more... That doesn't give Oedipus his due. No, definitely not. His mom was a pretty bad person for giving him away. But what would you do?

What would you do if your son was all cursed, A prophecy telling him that he is the worst He will murder, And the only way to leave him is to, give him to a shepherd for a little bit of money, And his daddy's off, somewhere getting killed now, by his own son now; I ain't got a love now. Maybe you, think I'm a bad wife, but for me this is what I call life.

After Jocasta has told Oedipus of the circumstances of Laius’ death Oedipus begins to despair that he is the killer, the leader of the chorus tells him to hope until he questions the witness to Laius’ death ‘My lord, you fill our hearts with fear. But at least until you question the witness, do take hope’ (page 207)

1.In the final action of the play the chorus highlight the downfall of Oedipus – they sympathise with their king ‘I pity you but I can’t bear to look’ they see his wounds and shudder in horror. (page 239)

(Page 223) After Jocasta has rushed off into the palace they express fear of what she may do, “I’m afraid that from this silence something monstrous may come bursting forth” heighten suspense, and prepare the audience for what will happen with Jocasta.

“O suffering dreadful for mankind to see, most dreadful of all I ever saw…I pity you.” “There is no way to count the pains we suffer. All our people are sick. There is no sword of thought which will protect us. The fruits of our famous land do not ripen. Our women cannot ease their labor pains by giving birth…The city is dying, the deaths cannot be counted.”

1.When Oedipus realises who his parents are they comment.. They talk about the greatness of Oedipus, how they looked up to him “You outranged all men” they mention the Sphinx, Oedipus being king, then his downfall and they are deeply sympathetic. “is there a man more agonized” ”Now I weep like a man who wails the dead”

1.alive and blind’ They wonder if Oedipus’ blinding of himself is for the best ‘better to die than be blind (page 242) He tells them the reason why he blinded himself. They advice him going to Treisas because they love him.

1.They end the play by asking the audience to look on Oedipus as a man who has solved the riddle. Now he is a broken man – it could happen to any one. ‘count no man happy till he dies, free of pain at last’. Also, they ask about the killer at the begging

9- entertaining the audience. 9- entertaining the audience. 10- separating between acts and scenes. 1-They help to develop the dramatic action by:...Asking about Oedipus origin Asking who is the killer