WorksheetsOedipus Rex Background Terms Reading Check
Total questions: 22
Worksheet time: 11mins
Name
Class
Date
1.
arrogance; a quality of extreme or foolish pride or dangerous overconfidence
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
tragic flaw
c)
oracle
d)
hubris
e)
catharsis
2.
a woman chosen by the gods through which divine advice and knowledge would be spoken
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
tragic flaw
c)
oracle
d)
hamartia
e)
catharsis
3.
the effect a tragedy has on an audience; the purification and purging of emotions, particularly pity and fear, which result from the audience experiencing the art form
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
tragic flaw
c)
hubris
d)
catharsis
4.
Which does NOT refer to a trait belonging to a tragic character which leads to his downfall?
a)
virtues
b)
tragic flaw
c)
hamartia
d)
Achilles' heel
e)
hubris
5.
a Greek word meaning missing the mark (as in archery) fault, failure, or guilt; it is the term for the tragic flaw which leads to a tragic character’s downfall
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
tragic flaw
c)
oracle
d)
hamartia
e)
catharsis
6.
a play dealing with tragic events and the downfall of the main character which are caused by a personal failing and include circumstances beyond his control
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
oracle
c)
hamartia
d)
hubris
e)
catharsis
7.
Oedipus Rex is a _________________ written by Sophocles.
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
tragic flaw
c)
oracle
d)
hubris
e)
catharsis
8.
According to Mrs. Beck (and anyone else who reads the play), what is a significant theme of the play?
a)
joy in the midst of distress
b)
hope in the midst of disaster
c)
love in the midst of hate
d)
blindness in contrast to sight
9.
Creon consulted an _______________ to help aid in ridding Thebes of the plague.
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
tragic flaw
c)
oracle
d)
hamartia
e)
Sphinx
10.
The horrific events in this play would cause the audience to experience ____________________.
a)
celebration
b)
tragic flaw
c)
oracle
d)
hubris
e)
catharsis
11.
Oedipus' tragic flaw or hamartia was his _____________.
a)
Greek tragedy
b)
tragic flaw
c)
oracle
d)
hubris
e)
catharsis
12.
an inhabitant of the Greek city of Thebes
a)
Sophocles
b)
Sphinx
c)
Oedipus
d)
Delphi
e)
Theban
13.
an ancient Greek city dedicated to the Greek god Apollo and home to the oracle and priestess Pythia
a)
Sophocles
b)
Sphinx
c)
Oedipus
d)
Delphi
e)
Apollo
14.
city in Ancient Greece and setting of the tragedy of Oedipus Rex
a)
Sophocles
b)
Oedipus
c)
Thebes
d)
Apollo
15.
ancient Greek tragedian; 496-406 BC
a)
Sophocles
b)
Sphinx
c)
Delphi
d)
Thebes
e)
Theban
16.
king of Thebes; his name means “swollen foot”
a)
Sphinx
b)
Oedipus
c)
Thebes
d)
Theban
e)
Apollo
17.
a mythological creature that has the head of a woman, the haunches of a lion, and the wings of a bird; she is cruel and merciless; she killed and ate those who could not answer her riddle; when Oedipus solved the riddle, she threw herself from a high rock and died.
a)
Sphinx
b)
Sophocles
c)
Oedipus
d)
Delphi
e)
Thebes
18.
Greek god of god of archery, music and dance, truth and prophecy, healing and diseases; god who gives help and wards off evil; patron deity of Delphi
a)
Sophocles
b)
Oedipus
c)
Delphi
d)
Theban
e)
Phoebus Apollo
19.
A person might visit the town of _____________ to consult the oracle.
a)
Sophocles
b)
Sphinx
c)
Oedipus
d)
Delphi
e)
Thebes
20.
The _____________ asked the riddle: "Which creature has one voice and yet becomes four-footed and two-footed and three-footed?”
a)
Sphinx
b)
Oedipus
c)
Theban
d)
Apollo
21.
The ________________ appealed to Oedipus for help ending the plague; their voices were represented in the Chorus.
a)
oracles
b)
Thespians
c)
Thebans
d)
gods
22.
What caused the citizens of Thebes to ask Oedipus for help?
a)
It was election time.
b)
the city was suffering under a plague affecting pregnancies and the harvests
c)
The Sphinx told them to.
d)
An oracle spoke to Jocasta.
100 %
