Oedipus Study Guide

Jocasta

Mother of Oedipus, queen of Thebes

Tiresias

Seer, clairvoyant

Oedipus

Son of Jocasta and Laius, tragic hero known for saving Thebes from Sphinx

Creon

Uncle to Oedipus, brother to Jocasta

Polybus

Oedipus’s adopted father, king of Corinth

Merope

Oedipus’s adopted mother, queen of Corinth

Laius

Father to Oedipus, king of Thebes

Shepherd

Saved Oedipus from certain death

Skene

Building behind the playing area that was originally a hut for changing masks and costumes but became the background before the drama was enacted

Tiresias

Seer, clairvoyant

Gods

Control nature and know all, made Thebes get sick

Creon

Uncle to Oedipus, brother to Jocasta

Theatron

Viewing area of a the theater

Orchestra

Flat, possibly circular, shape with an alter in center, place where chorus preformed, originally located in the hollow of the hill. Could be paved with something like marble or dirt. Audience didn’t sit there

Proscenium

The stage of an Ancient Greek or Roman theater

Tragic hero

Hero who’s life is going well but has a flaw that leads to their downfall

Prologue

Introduction, background info

Chorus

15 actors speaking in unison, rep public opinion, divided into strophe and antistrophe, stood on either side of orchestra

Three unities

Time, place and action,

Characterization

Using personality traits to create a character

Oracle

A clairvoyant person who can see into the future

Epic

Long poem of adventure

Jocasta

Mother to Oedipus, queen of Thebes