What is the main function of the Chorus in Oedipus?

To control the fate of the main characters

To reveal unpleasant truths to Oedipus

Why are the people of Thebes in despair at the beginning of the play?

a plague is killing people and livestock

the Sphinx is holding the city captive

Oedipus became king of Thebes by:

Shooting an arrow through the eye of a beast

Oedipus left Corinth, the home of his youth, in an effort to avoid:

Fulfilling a terrible prediction

Finding out the true identity of his parents

Having his ankles pinned together

Which of the following is an ironic event from Oedipus?

It is Oedipus who curses the murderer of Laius

Jocasta tries to protect Oedipus from discovering the truth

Apollo has cursed the family of Laius

What is ironic about Oedipus' declaration of the curse against Laius' murderer?

Oedipus is pronouncing his own doom

The true murderer is already dead

Oedipus has no power to punish a foreign criminal

The Theban elders already know who the murderer is

When Oedipus’ downfall is complete, Creon becomes the sole ruler of Thebes. Why is the shift of power ironic?

Creon argued earlier in the play that he did not want to be king

Laius had always wanted Creon to inherit the throne

The citizens of Thebes protested Creon

The oracle prophesied that Creon would assume control of Thebes

What did the prophecy state for Oedipus?

Oedipus would kill his father and marry his mother

Oedipus would destroy humanity and rule the underworld

Oedipus would die in a heroic battle

Oedipus would kill his friend and marry his wife

a tragic hero's reversal of fortune.

a tragic hero's proof of social status.

a tragic hero's recognition of his/her actions.

Oedipus has many reasons for blinding himself. Which of the following is NOT a reason he claimed?

he wanted to be a blind prophet like Tiresias

he wants the people of Thebes to see his remorse for what he has done.

he says he could not face his parents in the afterworld.

he said everything he would see would bring him only sadness,

Oedipus leaves his children with Creon, but he is more worried about...

his daughters; he his afraid they'll never marry

his sons; he knows that they will fight each other for kingship

Thebes; he has left his beloved city-state broken

Creon, he doesn't think he can handle them.

What is Creon's defense against the accusations against him?

He wouldn't want to be king since he already shares the perks of power without all the responsibilities.

He was visiting the Oracle at Delphi when the murder occurred.

Laius was his brother-in-law and he would never hurt family.

Jocasta forbade him from harming Laius after their marriage.

Why is there a plague on the city of Thebes?

The murder of Laius is unresolved.

Murders are rampant throughout the city.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

Which of the following is the Sphinx's riddle?

Which creature is four footed, two footed, and three footed?

The more of this you take the more you leave behind.

What has rivers with no water, forests but no trees, and cities with no buildings?

What belongs to you but others use it more than you?

Oedipus Rex: Test Review

Authored by Torey Cope

English

10th Grade

CCSS covered

Used 35+ times

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MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

20 sec • 1 pt

Who is the author of Oedipus Rex?

Euripides

Aristotle

Sophocles

Pythagorus

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

20 sec • 1 pt

What god's festival helped to establish the beginnings of the Greek Theater?

Zeus

Athena

Dionysus

Medea

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

20 sec • 1 pt

What is the sphinx?

a statue in ancient Egypt

a mythological monster who can turn people to stone

a mythological monster with a body that is half woman, half lion

a mythological monster that loves corn dogs

Tags

CCSS.RL.8.9

CCSS.RL.4.9

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

20 sec • 1 pt

What is catharsis?

the tragic flaw of a literary character

when the main character recognizes his true nature and flaw

the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

excessive pride

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.7

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

20 sec • 1 pt

Which term refers to the tragic flaw of a tragic hero?

peripeteia

hamartia

hubris

anagnorisis

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.8.10

CCSS.RL.9-10.9

CCSS.RL.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.8.5

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

30 sec • 1 pt

When the audience knows something that the characters do not, this is known as...

irony

dramatic irony

situational irony

I don't know. Apparently something to do with irony.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTION

20 sec • 1 pt

Who is the chorus supposed to represent?

The people of Thebes

The gods

The royalty of Thebes

Creon's followers

Tags

CCSS.RL.9-10.10

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

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

CCSS.RL.11-12.10

CCSS.RL.8.3

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