Name _____________________________________________ Period ________

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

Reading Prompt, 10/7
Advanced World Literature- McRobbie

Fear? What should a man fear? Its all chance, chance rules our lives. Not a man on
earth can see a day ahead, groping through the dark. Better to live at random, best we
can. And as for this marriage with your motherhave no fear. Many a man before you,
in his dreams, has shared his mothers bed. Take such things for shadows, nothing at
all Live, Oedipus, as if theres no tomorrow!

These lines, spoken by Jocasta, contain a great deal of irony as well as allude to major
thematic elements from the play. Explain what makes these lines so tragic in 2-3
paragraphs, using textual evidence for support.

Name _____________________________________________ Period ________

Oedipus the King by Sophocles

Reading Prompt, 10/7
Advanced World Literature- McRobbie

Fear? What should a man fear? Its all chance, chance rules our lives. Not a man on
earth can see a day ahead, groping through the dark. Better to live at random, best we
can. And as for this marriage with your motherhave no fear. Many a man before you,
in his dreams, has shared his mothers bed. Take such things for shadows, nothing at
all Live, Oedipus, as if theres no tomorrow!

These lines, spoken by Jocasta, contain a great deal of irony as well as allude to major
thematic elements from the play. Explain what makes these lines so tragic in 2-3
paragraphs, using textual evidence for support.