With mine titled “The Arrival of Creon,” the Theatre Appreciation students and I are writing essays on slender-sliced topics about “Oedipus the King.” Oedipus has sent Creon, his brother-in-law, to Apollo to learn what to do to lift the plague that threatens to destroy the city of Thebes.
As the king is speaking to the Thebans, his brother-in-law enters from the countryside, wearing a laurel crown speckled with red. He arrives with the message from the oracle (the place where or the medium by which the gods were consulted).
Kreon reports that the plague will end when the murder of the former king of Thebes is avenged. Kreon states, “He [Apollo] made his meaning very clear. He commands we drive out what corrupts us, what sickens our city. We now harbor something incurable. He says: purge it.”
[1.] Which playwright wrote “Oedipus the King”?
A. Shakespeare
B. Euripides
C. Aeschylus
D. Aristophanes
E. Sophocles
[2.] banish (BAN-ish)
A. to prevent
B. to send, drive or put away
C. to preclude
D. to osculate
Let’s see how you’re doing in our quiz. No. 1 is E. All those listed are Greek playwrights, except Shakespeare.
No. 2 is B. Our textbook, “The Enjoyment of Theatre” said, “Creon returns and announces that the oracle says that the city must banish the murderer of the former king, Laius.”
[3.] The name Oedipus [ED-uh-pus] means
A. avenger.
B. swollen foot.
C. octopus.
D. warrior.
[4.] helm (HELM)
A. assistance, help
B. ensample
C. chorus
D. the place of control
No. 3 is B. An infant was found with pierced ankles and left to die, but a shepherd found him; this baby was named Oedipus because of his swollen feet.
Kreon says, “As you know, King, our city was ruled once by Laios, before you came to take the helm.” No. 4 is D.
Editor’s Note: Dr. Don Rodney Vaughan is the pastor of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church near Eupora and is on the faculty of East Mississippi Community College, Golden Triangle Campus. Contact him at dvaughan@eastms.edu.
