This document provides two discussion questions about the play Oedipus the King by Sophocles. The first question asks whether Sophocles presented a realistic view of life or an unrealistic series of coincidences in the play. The second question asks about the emotions one might feel at the end of the play, such as pity, fear, awe, or relief, and asks the reader to support their response with quotes from the text.

1. For this week's discussion, pick ONE of the following to answer
in at least 250 words, using directly quoted evidence from the
play. Remember to respond to at least one other classmate.
1. The British writer Matthew Arnold said that Sophocles, the
author of Oedipus the King, "saw life steadily and saw it
whole." But in this play is Sophocles facing the facts of life, or,
on the contrary, is he avoiding life as it usually is and
presenting a series of unnatural and outrageous coincidences?
Remember to support your response with directly quoted
evidence.
or
2. Can you describe your emotions at the end of the play? Do
they include pity for Oedipus? Pity for all human beings,
including yourself? Fear that you might be punished for some
unintended transgression? Awe, engendered by a perception of
the interrelatedness of life's events? Relief that the story is only
a story? Exhilaration? Again, support your response with
directly quoted evidence.