Oedipus the King
pp. 263-322
Part I:
_____ 1. What does the name “Oedipus” mean?
a. “Incest-monger”
b. “King of Thebes”
c. “Swollen feet”
d. “blinded by Fate”
_____ 2. From whose curse did Oedipus rescue Thebes?
a. The Sphinx’s
b. Laius’
c. Apollo’s
d. Creon’s
_____ 3. At the beginning of the play, the people of Thebes believe that Oedipus can deliver them
from the plague because
a. they are his needy children.
b. he is their king and their hero.
c. the omens suggest that he will help.
d. they consider him to be a god.
_____ 4. In order to rescue Thebes from the plague, the murderer of Laius must be found and
a. either killed or exiled.
b. forced to battle Oedipus.
c. made to pay for lost crops and lost lives.
d. judged by the people of Thebes.
_____ 5. The man who survived the attack on Laius most likely lied when he reported that a band
of thieves killed the king because
a. the Sphinx did not want the true nature of the crime to come to light.
b. Creon dictated the story he was to tell.
c. he wanted to distract the townspeople from finding the real killer.
d. he was ashamed that he could not defend the king against a single attacker.
_____ 6. Oedipus’ speech to the chorus in lines 248-261 is ironic because
a. he knows the killer.
b. the gods cannot be fooled.
c. the real criminal is forced to remain silent.
d. he is not a stranger to the story or to the crime.
_____ 7. Tiresias can best be described as a
a. self-styled but mistaken prophet.
b. plotter against the king.
c. blind seer of the future.
d. chief supporter of Oedipus.
_____ 8. In his confrontation with Tiresias about the blind prophet’s refusal to reveal his secret,
Oedipus shows which of the following negative characteristics?
a. paranoia
b. short temper
c. overly critical judgment
d. avoidance of responsibility
_____ 9. When Tiresias is pushed to reveal the truth, Oedipus
a. has him arrested for fraud.
b. leaves his fate to the citizens.
c. banishes him from the kingdom.
d. accuses Creon of conspiracy.
_____ 10. What is Creon’s relationship to Jocasta?
a. brother
b. father
c. cousin
d. uncle
_____ 11. Oedipus’ references to darkness, blindness, and vision in regards to Tiresias are ironic
because
a. Creon will have a better future than Oedipus.
b. he gets back at Oedipus for mocking his blindness.
c. a prophet is questioning Oedipus’ authority.
d. Tiresias can “see” the truth more clearly than Oedipus.
_____ 12. In Part I of the drama, the chorus plays the role of
a. outraged citizens of Thebes.
b. sarcastic spectators.
c. observant commentators.
d. servants of Tiresias.
_____ 13. The adjectives that best describe Oedipus are
a. foolhardy and careless in his actions.
b. murderous and cruel toward others.
c. gentle and unselfish with his subjects.
d. stubborn and relentless in the pursuit of truth.
Part II:
_____ 14. Creon can best be described as
a. villainous.
b. loyal.
c. selfish.
d. jealous.
_____ 15. Oedipus believes that Creon wants all of the following EXCEPT
a. the kingship.
b. wealth.
c. Oedipus’ good name.
d. Jocasta.
_____ 16. Creon argues against Oedipus’ conspiracy theory by saying
a. he wants profit, not power.
b. he has everything he needs and wants.
c. he already has more influence than Oedipus has.
d. he does not have the self-control required to perform the duties of a king.
_____ 17. Oedipus’ emotional state in this part of the play can best be described as
a. insecure and irrational.
b. calm and supportive.
c. forgiving.
d. coldly logical.
_____ 18. Jocasta breaks up the quarrel between her brother and her husband because
a. she fears that Oedipus will kill Creon.
b. this is a family issue, not a political one.
c. the citizens are taking sides.
d. public quarrels embarrass her.
_____ 19. Jocasta’s attempts to give Oedipus some peace of mind about prophecies and oracles
make the king even more anxious because
a. the gods, not humans, reveal the future.
b. everyone but Oedipus knows the truth.
c. he trusts and respects her more than he should.
d. both examples she gives apply to Oedipus.
_____ 20. In killing King Laius and his retainers, Oedipus proved that
a. he could not be bullied.
b. he wanted to fulfill the prophecy.
c. pride ruled everything he did.
d. he could control his destiny.
_____ 21. The details of King Laius’ murder—when and where it took place and who else was
there—are important tom Oedipus because he
a. is responsible for prosecuting the real criminal.
b. is looking for ways to incriminate Creon in this crime.
c. has always wondered about Apollo’s curse.
d. is beginning to put the pieces together and senses his responsibility.
_____ 22. The tragic flaw that causes Oedipus’ downfall is
a. faulty reasoning.
b. overwhelming pride.
c. vanity.
d. poor vision.
_____ 23. At the end of Part 2, the chorus reinforces the action and highlights the theme of the
play by saying that
a. people who think themselves above the gods are doomed.
b. strife between gods and humans is normal and desirable.
c. it is Oedipus’ destiny to be a tyrant.
d. only the gods are immortal.
_____ 24. According to the Greeks, pride that goes beyond acceptable limits
a. results in loss of a good reputation.
b. can be traced to a poor upbringing.
c. was typical in Greek leaders.
d. incurs divine punishment.
_____ 25. For the Greeks, it was more acceptable to believe that there was some divine plan or
universal order rather than thinking that
a. prophecies are made to be challenged.
b. people can challenge the gods and win.
c. good and bad fortune are purely random.
d. skillful rulers will someday replace old-fashioned gods.
Part III:
_____ 26. The news of Polybus’ death has a “double edge”; while his death is a sad event, it also
means good news for Oedipus because
a. he can now return to Corinth.
b. he can now be absolved of all responsibility.
c. the oracle seems to be wrong in at least one of the prophecies.
d. he has discovered the truth about his actions.
_____ 27. In lines 1069-1078, Jocasta expresses the view that
a. plans should be made for the future.
b. random events determine our lives.
c. belief in prophecies is a waste of time.
d. dreams influence the course of our lives.
_____ 28. By avoiding Corinth, his “parents,” and his fate, Oedipus has also
a. evaded good fortune.
b. dealt with a lifetime of guilt and fear.
c. denied his identity.
d. been lonely for his family.
_____ 29. To build suspense in the play, Sophocles
a. does not show violent events on stage.
b. keeps Jocasta as much in the dark as Oedipus is.
c. uses messengers to communicate important details.
d. reveals information bit by bit, postponing the climax.
_____ 30. The character that holds the key to past events and the truth is
a. Creon.
b. Jocasta.
c. the messenger.
d. the shepherd.
_____ 31. Oedipus believes that Jocasta wants him to close the inquiry about his heritage because
she
a. is ashamed of his humble origins.
b. senses that he is the son of a god.
c. secretly believes the oracle and all its predictions.
d. is afraid her prayers to the gods have been ignored.
_____ 32. In lines 1195-1214, the purpose for having the chorus imagine that Oedipus is the son
of a god is to
a. make Jocasta feel better.
b. provide important and accurate background information.
c. echo Oedipus’ optimism when he calls himself son of Chance.
d. mislead the audience before the last important witness comes on stage.
_____ 33. By threatening the shepherd with punishment and forcing him to speak, Oedipus brings
about his tragedy through his own
a. sorrow and self-pity.
b. stubborn refusal to see the truth.
c. pride and determination.
d. unhappiness and disillusionment.
_____ 34. When he breaks into their room and discovers that Jocasta has hung herself, Oedipus
a. runs his sword through her body.
b. calls for Creon and the people of Thebes.
c. collapses on the ground, sobbing brokenheartedly.
d. blinds himself, in his agony.
_____ 35. Oedipus’ self-inflicted punishment is an example of irony because
a. the audience knows that Oedipus just wants pity.
b. Oedipus has been unable to see the truth.
c. the reader’s expectation is that Oedipus will kill himself.
d. no one would have expected that Oedipus could endure such pain.
_____ 36. Oedipus’ statement about Apollo and himself in lines 1467-1471 reveals that
a. Oedipus accepts his destiny.
b. Oedipus expects to be forgiven.
c. the Greeks have lost faith in their gods.
d. Oedipus is still running away from his fate.
_____ 37. Oedipus’ fear for his daughter’ future stems primarily from the fact that they will
a. carry his disgrace.
b. have no protector.
c. be punished by the gods.
d. not learn from his mistakes.