Past paper of classical and medieval drama 2019:

Q/. Why does Teiresias say that Oedipus is the one who is blind?

He says Oedipus may be having eyes in the physical sense, but he is actually blind, he is unable
to see the facts. He is not aware of the identity of his parents. Moreover, Teiresias foretells that
Oedipus will be driven out of Thebes, and that will be deprived of his eyesight.

Q/. What was the riddle posed by Sphnix to Oedipus?

The riddle posed by Sphnix to Oedipus was, "What goes on four feet in the morning, two feet at
noon, and three feet in the evening?" When Oedipus gave the correct answer, "man", the
Sphnix threw itself off a cliff and died.

Q/. What does the title Oedipus Rex means?

The title comes from the king Oedipus, in Greek mythology, the king of Thebes who unwittingly
killed his father and married his mother. Traditionally his name which means Swollen-Foot, was
a result of his feet having been pinned together by shepherd in the order of king Laius and
Jocasta and intended to leave him in the wilderness to die.

Q /. What message did Creon bring from Delphi Oracle?

Creon brought the message from Delphi Oracle that the gods had caused by plague in Thebes in
response to the murder of Laius, the previous king of Thebes. The gods had demanded that the
murdered(the pollution of this land) should be killed or exiled. The plague would be lifted after
the completion of the task.

Q/. What is the ironic about Oedipus calling Creon a murderer?

The irony here is that he is looking for himself because he is the murderer of his father.
Oedipus knows that he killed someone, but what he does not know is that it was Laius, the one
he murder. Oedipus wants to punish the person who killed Laius, but we, the audience know
that Oedipus was the one who killed Laius.

Q/. What does it mean by the term trilogy?

Trilogy is a series of three dramas or literary works or sometimes three musical compositions
that are closely related and develop a single theme.

For example; Sophocles' immortalised trilogy of plays Antigone, Oedipus the King and Oedipus
at Colonus. Each play in the trilogy is considered among the greatest plays ever written, and
they were admired by the Ancient Greeks as well.
Q/. What do you know about Machiavelli?

Niccolò Machiavelli was an Italian Renaissance political philosopher and statesman and
Secretary of the Florentine Republic. His most famous work, The Prince(1532), brought him a
reputation as an atheist and an immoral cynic. Machiavelli believed that public and private
morality had to be understood as two different things in order to rule well.

Q/. What does Teiresias predict for Oedipus' future?

Oedipus mocks Teiresias' blindness. Than Teiresias tells Oedipus that he is blind despite having
eyes as he can't see what a miserable life he is living and he don't know in whose house and
with whom he is living. And he tell him that no living man will meet his end more horribly than
him. As he will get blind and exiled from Thebes.

Q/. Explain the line "I count religion but a childish toy" ?

The Prologue satirises Machiavelli's theory of statecraft as the narrator holds religion to a
"childish toy" and there is no sin but ignorance(a symbol of unrestrained immorality in the
Elizabethan period). Machiavelli notes that Barabas "favors" him, which could mean that
Barabas either resembles Machiavelli or advocates his tactics.

Q/. Why is Barabas's all property confiscated?

In order to raise tribute demanded by the Truks, the Christian governor of Malta Ferneze seizes
half the property of all Jews living on Malta. When Barabas, a wealthy jewish merchant,
protests, his entire estate is confiscated.

Q/. Who makes a deal with whom and why in the play The Jew of Malta?

Barabas decides to make a deal with Ferneze. He knows that his life is in danger when the Turks
leave Malta. Ferneze persuades him that it is good policy.

Q/. What is Barabas's reaction at the death of Abigail?

Barabas celebrates the successful plan of poisoning the nuns. He is only grieved that his
daughter lived long enough to become a Christian.

Q/. What do you understand by the phrase comedy of humours?

Comedy of humour is first proposed by Ben Johnson in his play "Every man in his humour
"(acted 1598). The comedy of humours is a genre of dramatic comedy that focuses on a
character or range of characters, each of whom exhibits two or more overriding traits or
'humours' that dominates their personality, desires and conduct.
Q/. Of what Captain Bondwell(Bobadil) is fond of in the play Every man in his humour?

He is a braggart captain and is fond of quoting snatches of Elizabethan plays, particularly from
the Spanish Tragedy. His fund of anecdotes(a short amusing and interesting story about a real
incident or person) of his pretended military career is boundless. Mujh yahi sae laga tha
👆

Q/. Compare and contrast Stephen and Knowell as the character in Every man in his humour?

Edward Knowell is an intellectual and frivolous character but Stephen's character is melancholy
and having the habit of swearing and smoking.

Q/. What is Kitely's sister called character in Every man in his humour?

Kitely's lovely and virginal sister is called Bridget. She is courted to Mathew but married to
Edward Knowell at the end.