WorksheetsOedipus Rex Review
Total questions: 45
Worksheet time: 23mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
Greek drama began as a religious observance in honor of the god __________________.
a)
Apollo
b)
Dionysus
c)
Zeus
d)
Hercules
2.
How long did the festival last each spring?
a)
2 days
b)
1 day
c)
3 days
d)
4 days
3.
The ___________________, or "tent" was the backstage area, decorated depending on play.
a)
backdrop
b)
orchestra
c)
skene
d)
theatron
4.
The ___________________, or "dancing space" was circular, where the chorus chanted, sang, and danced.
a)
orchestra
b)
skene
c)
theatron
d)
stage
5.
The ___________________, or "viewing-place" where spectators sat.
a)
orchestra
b)
mezzanine
c)
theatron
d)
skene
6.
There was no pause in action in Greek dramas. Instead, the entrance of the chorus broke up the different scenes called
a)
acts
b)
quarters
c)
episodes
d)
scenes
7.
Unity of __________________: all actions unfolds in one day
a)
time
b)
place
c)
space
d)
action
8.
Unity of __________________: all actions unfold in one place
a)
time
b)
place
c)
space
d)
action
9.
Unity of __________________: all events are important to a single plot
a)
time
b)
place
c)
space
d)
action
10.
Ancient Greek drama plots were used to enforce a particular _____________ for the people
a)
law
b)
lesson
c)
religious belief
d)
occupation
11.
A person of importance goes from happiness to disaster (often death) because of a flaw, error in judgment, or force of fate.
a)
comedy
b)
satire
c)
history
d)
tragedy
12.
a person who experiences a reversal of fortune as a result of a flaw
a)
epic hero
b)
tragic hero
13.
Which was NOT one of Artistole's Poetics of a tragic hero?
a)
great suffering
b)
noble birth
c)
good fortune
d)
hamartia
14.
Who is the playwright of "Oedipus Rex"?
a)
Aristotle
b)
Sophocles
c)
Homer
d)
Shakespeare
15.
Excessive pride is best described as
a)
hubris
b)
catharsis
c)
hamartia
d)
climax
16.
What does the name "Oedipus" mean
a)
achilles heel
b)
short temper
c)
swollen foot
d)
bloody eyes
17.
Where was King Laius killed?
a)
Thebes
b)
crossroad
c)
Cithaeron
d)
Cornith
18.
Where was Oedipus born?
a)
Cornith
b)
Thebes
c)
Mt. Cithaeron
d)
Pythia to Apollo
19.
Where are Polybus and Merope from?
a)
Cornith
b)
Thebes
c)
Mt. Cithaeron
d)
Delphi
20.
What was the answer to the Sphinx's riddle? "what animal goes on 4 legs in the morning, 2 at noon, and 3 legs in the evening."
a)
dog
b)
man
c)
snake
d)
horse
21.
Because of the murder of Laius, Thebes is suffering from...
a)
recession
b)
a blight
c)
an earthquake
d)
a mudslide
22.
What are strophe and antistrophe?
a)
characters in the play
b)
part of the plot
c)
direction that the chorus turns
d)
inspiration behind the play
23.
One night, who calls Oedipus a "bastard"?
a)
Creon
b)
Jocasta
c)
Shepard
d)
Drunk man
24.
Who was the eyewitness to Laius' murder?
a)
Creon
b)
Messenger
c)
Herdsman
d)
Tiresias
25.
Which characters on stage were meant to represent the townspeople?
a)
Messengers
b)
The Chorus
c)
Shepherds
d)
Oedipus
26.
Which is NOT one of the items actors wore in a Greek drama?
a)
huge masks
b)
golden wigs
c)
high shoes
d)
elaborate costumes
27.
According to the oracle, when will the plague end?
a)
when Jocasta bears a son
b)
when Oedipus repents his sins
c)
when the killer of Laius is banished
d)
when Creon becomes king
28.
Why was Oedipus left to die by his real parents?
a)
because his mother did not want children
b)
because his parents thought he was hideous
c)
because the gods said to do so
d)
because of the oracle given to them
29.
Who is the blind prophet who reveals to Oedipus that he killed Laius?
a)
Aristotle
b)
Sophocles
c)
Teiresias
d)
Euripides
30.
What is Creon's reason for not wanting to kill Oedipus to obtain the crown?
a)
equal in power without the responsibility
b)
does not have the king-like qualities
c)
he is not of noble birth
d)
he does not want to be married to his sister
31.
Who does Oedipus want to call upon and speak with?
a)
his "biological parents": King/Queen of Corinth
b)
the priest from the beginning of the play
c)
the oracle of Delphi
d)
the herdsman who witnessed the murder of Laius
32.
What news does the messenger of Cornith bring to Oedipus
a)
Oedipus is accused of treason
b)
Merope is dead
c)
Polybus is dead
d)
Oedipus has a child at home
33.
What information does the messenger reveal to Oedipus that he believes would set his mind to ease?
a)
Polybus did not die at the hands of Oedipus
b)
Polybus and Merope were not his true kin
c)
Merope is to wed another man
d)
He will be king of Cornith
34.
Who are considered character foils in the play?
a)
Oedipus and Creon
b)
Oedipus and Jocasta
c)
Oedipus and Laius
d)
Jocasta and Merope
35.
What type of irony is where one thing is said, but another is meant
a)
verbal irony
b)
situational irony
c)
dramatic irony
36.
What type of irony is when the audience knows things that the characters do not
a)
situational irony
b)
dramatic irony
c)
verbal irony
37.
What type of irony is when one thing is expected to happen, but another occurs
a)
situational irony
b)
verbal irony
c)
dramatic irony
38.
Who does the Herdsman of Thebes blame the murder on King Laius on?
a)
robbers
b)
Oedipus
c)
the Sphinx
d)
Apollo
39.
What happens to Jocasta?
a)
Oedipus strangles her
b)
Oedipus stabs her
c)
She hangs herself
d)
She stabs herself
40.
When Oedipus’ downfall is complete, Creon becomes the sole ruler of Thebes. Why is the shift of power ironic?
a)
Laius had always wanted Creon to inherit the throne
b)
Creon argued earlier that he did not want to be king
c)
The citizens of Thebes protested Creon
d)
The oracle prophesied that Creon would assume control of Thebes
41.
How does the herdsman and the messenger from Corinth know each other?
a)
The messenger is the shepherd’s son
b)
They both served in the king’s guard
c)
The old herdsman is the messenger’s father
d)
The herdsman was the one to give the messenger the baby of Laius and Jocasta
42.
Specifically, what is Oedipus still afraid of in Corinth?
a)
he is afraid that he will marry his mother and the two will bear children
b)
he is afraid that he will be overcome by regret being accused of treason
c)
he is afraid that he will be blamed for the death of the king
d)
he is afraid that the gods will reveal his true fate
43.
What message/lesson does the chorus convey at the end of the play?
a)
the gods always win
b)
you can not escape your fate
c)
not to let your anger cloud your judgment
d)
never, ever, ever, ever marry your mother
44.
In order to punish himself for his sins, what does Oedipus do?
a)
cuts out his eyeballs
b)
dash out his eyes with brooches
c)
cut out his tongue
d)
stab his ears with brooches
45.
How much dramatic irony was presented in the play
a)
Literally on every page
b)
Not enough!
100 %
