Sophocles Questions and Answers
Sophocles
What are some examples of Oedipus' bad choices and heroic qualities?
Some of his bad choices could consist Example: of waging the battle between he and Laius over something as trivial as passage rights on a country road. Certainly, given that he had already known of...
Sophocles
What wars occurred at the beginning and end of Sophocles' life?
Sophocles lived from approximately 496 to 405 BC, witnessing two major wars involving Athens. As a child, he experienced the Greco-Persian Wars, which included key battles like Marathon and...
Sophocles
Why have Thebes' citizens come to their king in supplication?
The citizens of Thebes come to their king, Oedipus, in supplication due to a devastating blight affecting their crops and livestock, alongside a plague causing illness and death. They seek Oedipus's...
Sophocles
Compare and contrast Oedipus Rex and Antigone by Sophocles.
Both Oedipus Rex and Antigone are Greek tragedies by Sophocles featuring tragic heroes with fatal flaws, primarily pride. Oedipus's downfall is due to his relentless pursuit of truth, while...
Sophocles
Why have only seven of Sophocles' 123 plays survived?
Only seven of Sophocles' plays survived due to the fragile nature of ancient texts, which required continuous copying by scribes. Only the most popular or influential works were often recopied due to...
Sophocles
Is Orestes a tragic hero or a mother killer in Sophocles' works?
Orestes is both a tragic hero and a mother killer in Sophocles' works, reflecting the complexity of justice. From an earthly perspective, his actions against Clytemnestra align with contemporary...
Sophocles
Write an analytical essay about King Oedipus.
An analytical essay about the character King Oedipus must include a thesis statement that makes a claim about some aspect of his character or his choices, perhaps his free will, his arrogance, or his...
Sophocles
What existential question does the Oedipus myth attempt to explain to ancient Greeks?
The big question of human existence contained in the myth of Oedipus involves the role and power of fate. The ancient Greeks tended toward a very pessimistic vision of the world, one which gave...