1. Oedipus the King
Pages

2. Lines
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.

3. 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

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

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

6. Lines
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.

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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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