1. Introduction to Oedipus Rex What Oedipus Knows

2. Early Years Oedipus grows up a prince in Corinth. His parents are Polybus and Merope. Oedipus grows up a prince in Corinth. His parents are Polybus and Merope. He is a strong and handsome lad with one impediment, a bad foot that causes him to limp slightly. He is a strong and handsome lad with one impediment, a bad foot that causes him to limp slightly. One night at a banquet a drunk yells out that Polybus and Merope are not Oedipus’ parents. One night at a banquet a drunk yells out that Polybus and Merope are not Oedipus’ parents.

3. Antigone is the 3 rd play in a trilogy about the house of Oedipus. The three plays are Oedipus the King Oedipus the King Oedipus at Collonus Oedipus at Collonus Antigone Antigone

4. To understand Antigone, both the play and the character, it helps best to know the story of her father, Oedipus King of Thebes. To understand Antigone, both the play and the character, it helps best to know the story of her father, Oedipus King of Thebes.

5. Early years continued The drunkard’s accusation infuriates and worries Oedipus who confronts his parents with the man’s words. The drunkard’s accusation infuriates and worries Oedipus who confronts his parents with the man’s words. His parents dismiss the accusation as the drunken words of a fool. His parents dismiss the accusation as the drunken words of a fool. Nonetheless, the drunkard’s words haunt Oedipus, who eventually goes to Delphi, Apollo’s temple, to consult Pythia, Apollo’s prophet. Nonetheless, the drunkard’s words haunt Oedipus, who eventually goes to Delphi, Apollo’s temple, to consult Pythia, Apollo’s prophet.

6. Early Years Cont. The oracle refuses to answer Oedipus’ questions directly and instead offers him a horrifying prophecy that Oedipus will murder his father and marry his mother. The oracle refuses to answer Oedipus’ questions directly and instead offers him a horrifying prophecy that Oedipus will murder his father and marry his mother. To escape this dreadful fate Oedipus flees Corinth to make his fortune where fate might lead him. To escape this dreadful fate Oedipus flees Corinth to make his fortune where fate might lead him.

7. The Journey On the road Oedipus encounters a man of important status accompanied by a significant entourage. On the road Oedipus encounters a man of important status accompanied by a significant entourage. The man tries to push Oedipus off the road, which endangers and infuriates the young prince. The man tries to push Oedipus off the road, which endangers and infuriates the young prince. In a heated rage Oedipus murders the man and his entourage. In a heated rage Oedipus murders the man and his entourage.

8. At Thebes Oedipus comes to the city of Thebes. Oedipus comes to the city of Thebes. Thebes is in turmoil. First, its king, Laius, has been murdered by a band of thieves. Thebes is in turmoil. First, its king, Laius, has been murdered by a band of thieves. Secondly, a sphinx, a beast with the head of a man and the body of a lion is terrorizing the city, killing all the young men until one of them can answer a riddle. Secondly, a sphinx, a beast with the head of a man and the body of a lion is terrorizing the city, killing all the young men until one of them can answer a riddle.

9. And the riddle is… What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening? What walks on four legs in the morning, two legs at noon, and three legs in the evening?

10. And the answer is Humans. Humans. Oedipus, of course, answers correctly and saves the city. Oedipus, of course, answers correctly and saves the city.

11. In Thebes In return he gets to marry the queen, Jocasta. In return he gets to marry the queen, Jocasta. He and Jocasta live happily for many years. He and Jocasta live happily for many years. Oedipus is a good king, and he and his wife have four children. Oedipus is a good king, and he and his wife have four children. Two boys: Polynieces and Eteocles Two boys: Polynieces and Eteocles Two girls: Antigone and Ismene. Two girls: Antigone and Ismene.

12. In Thebes But as the play Oedipus Rex opens, we learn that the fortune of the city has turned. But as the play Oedipus Rex opens, we learn that the fortune of the city has turned. A host of problems terrorizes the populace: famine and plague and the women are dying in child birth and giving birth to still borns. A host of problems terrorizes the populace: famine and plague and the women are dying in child birth and giving birth to still borns. Oedipus, as king, must find solutions to these awful problems. Oedipus, as king, must find solutions to these awful problems.

13. And so begins our tragedy!