MORGAN: Oedipus Part II Quizizz ALT

Close to the beginning of Part II, the messenger comes bearing news that he claims "will give / [Jocasta and Oedipus] pleasure. Perhaps a little pain too." What is this news?

• Queen Merope has died.
• Teiresias has died.
• The truth behind Oedipus's birth has been discovered.
• King Polybus has died.

In what way is Jocasta and Oedipus's discussion about the messenger's news an example of dramatic irony?

• Jocasta already knows that King Polybus and Queen Merope are not her husband's parents, but she has never told him this.
• The audience knows that King Polybus and Queen Merope are not Oedipus's real parents.
• The messenger knows that Oedipus is the killer of the Sphinx and of King Laius.
• Oedipus's suspicion that Queen Merope still living will indeed lead to his marrying his mother.

The messenger who brings the news of the death of King Polybus is also the _____.

• first shepherd/the man who took baby Oedipus from King Laius and Queen Jocasta
• second shepherd/the man who gave baby Oedipus to King Polybus and Queen Merope
• true father of Oedipus
• blind prophet Teiresias

As Jocasta begins to "fill in the blanks" about Oedipus's past and identity, her attitude about his search changes from one of _____ to one of _____.

• encouragement; discouragement
• irritation; relief
• sadness; happiness
• horror; enlightenment

After Jocasta departs, an old man for whom Oedipus has sent for earlier arrives. The old man - mentioned in the play as the herdsman - is reluctant to look Oedipus in the eyes and to answer his questions. Why?

• He is worried that Oedipus is unaware of King Polypus's (his adoptive father's) death, and the herdsman does not want to have to be the one to tell Oedipus.
• The herdsman had an affair with Jocasta years ago and is afraid that he may be Oedipus's real father.
• The herdsman knows he will be called on to reveal the facts that he knows - that Oedipus is the child of King Laius and Queen Jocasta as well as King Laius's killer - and he is dreading answering those questions.
• His brother - King Laius - was killed by Oedipus, and the herdsman is afraid that if he reveals this information, Oedipus will kill him as well.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.10. RL.11-12.10

When the herdsman who arrives (who we also know as another character - hint, hint!), he does not seem very willing to talk to Oedipus. As a result, Oedipus tells him, "If you'll not talk to gratify me, you / will talk with pain to urge you." Which of Oedipus's personality flaws is shown here?

• naivete (lack of knowledge)
• hubris (excessive pride)
• general laziness
• hot temper

When Oedipus finally discovers the truth, he runs in the direction Jocasta went - searching for his mother-wife. He does this because he wants to _____ her, but when he finds her, he _____ instead.

• comfort; pokes out his own eyeballs
• comfort; can't muster up any emotions at all over her death
• kill her; pokes out his own eyeballs
• argue with; becomes very sad and cries

Read Oedipus's words: "Curse on the man who took / the cruel bonds from off my legs, as I lay in the field. / He stole me from death and saved me, / no kindly service." What does Oedipus wish had happened to him as a baby?

• Oedipus wishes he had died on Mount Cithaeron as a baby.
• Oedipus wishes he had never been born at all.
• Oedipus wishes he had simply been kept by his true parents instead of being given away to strangers.
• Oedipus wishes he had been marked with a special tattoo so that he could always be identified as his true self.

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

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CCSS.RL.8.6

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

As the play draws to a close, Oedipus utters these words: "Creon, you need not care / about my sons; they're men and so wherever / they are, they will not lack a livelihood. / But my two girls - so sad and pitiful - / whose table never stood apart from mine, / and everything I touched they always shared - / O Creon, have a thought for them!" Why is Oedipus so concerned about his daughters Antigone and Ismene?

• They are older than his two sons and will have to not only the care of their brothers but also carry on a ruined family name.
• They do not have jobs right now (both have recently lost their jobs), and Oedipus worries no one will hire them because of their father's background.
• They are young girls who will need men to both marry and take care of them. Oedipus does not think any one will offer to do this given the truth of their family line.
• They were both very close to their mother - Queen Jocasta - and Oedipus feels he will need Creon's help to tell them the truth about their mother.

Despite the fact that many people viewed Oedipus as having a life worthy with envy earlier in the play, by the end, the rest of the characters - and the audience - feel _____ for him.

• envy
• confusion
• `pity
• apathy (a lack of interest or concern)