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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Creon say has caused the disasters to the town?
(a) an unfulfilled prophecy
(b) a fight between protecting gods
(c) an unavenged murder
(d) a slight to the gods

2. What does the priest call pestilence?
(a) a roaring lion
(b) a fiery god
(c) a sinister snake
(d) a thundering beast

3. What does the priest point out about Oedipus overcoming the Sphinx?
(a) Oedipus was able to defeat the Sphinx because of his powerful arm and his connections to royalty.
(b) Oedipus had no more knowledge or instruction than the townspeople, and yet was able to solve the riddle.
(c) Oedipus used superior training to defeat the Sphinx, and no one else had the same benefits.
(d) Oedipus defeated the Sphinx only out of sheer luck.

4. What argument does Oedipus offer that Teiresias is not really a prophet?
(a) Teiresias's prophecies conflict with the oracle.
(b) Teiresias changes his prophesies from one day to the next.
(c) Teiresias did not answer the Sphinx's riddle.
(d) Teiresias is only faking blindness.

5. What reason does Teiresias give for not answering Oedipus' questions?
(a) He isn't sure about what he knows.
(b) He knows the truth, but the gods have told him not to say.
(c) He does not believe his own visions.
(d) He doesn't want to cause them both grief.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Oedipus ask Teiresias to do, after Teiresias says Oedipus is the murderer?

2. What does Oedipus call the people of Thebes?

3. Who does Teiresias accuse as the murderer?

4. What does Oedipus say he's been doing in his sorrow?

5. Why does Oedipus say his sorrow is greater than the townspeople?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe how the townspeople view Oedipus.

2. Describe what the people of Thebes have with them at the beginning of the play.

3. What troubles have affected the people of Thebes?

4. Why are the people of Thebes reluctant to think Oedipus guilty of a crime?

5. What is the attitude of the townspeople when they speak to Oedipus?

6. Why doesn't Creon immediately tell Oedipus his news?

7. What does the priest appeal to in asking Oedipus to save the city?

8. How does Oedipus respond to the townspeople's pleas for help?

9. What reason does Oedipus give for coming himself to see the crowd of people who have gathered at the beginning of the play?

10. What does Oedipus accuse Teiresias of, that finally forces the prophet's tongue?

(see the answer keys)

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