View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the messenger want Oedipus to go?

2. What does Oedipus first say to Jocasta, after questioning the messenger about Polybus' death?

3. What does Jocasta advise Oedipus about his fears?

4. Why does Jocasta come to pray to Apollo?

5. Does the shepherd identify the messenger as someone he's met?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Polybus die?

2. After Jocasta exits, when Oedipus is intent on finding out his true identity, how does the chorus feel about Oedipus' search?

3. What does Jocasta's description of the place where Laius was killed mean to Oedipus?

4. What did the oracle at Delphi tell Oedipus about his parentage?

5. How does Jocasta feel about Polybus' death?

6. What main news does the messenger from Corinth bring?

7. How does Creon seem to react to Oedipus leveling charges against him?

8. What is Oedipus's attitude toward his wife?

9. What prophecy does Jocasta tell Oedipus about?

10. What caused the scar on Oedipus' ankles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In OEDIPUS THE KING, much of the action takes place offstage or in different times, and is retold by the characters and messengers. Discuss how this affects the play.

1) How is hearing about Jocasta's suicide from the second messenger a different experience than seeing it?

2) How is hearing Oeidpus retell the story of meeting Laius on the road different from seeing it?

3) How effective is it for Oedipus to come on stage with his eyes gouged out at the end of the play? Is it more affecting since most of the violence of the play takes place offstage?

4) What other effects does the action taking place offstage have on the play?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the timeline of Oedipus' story.

1) Why does Oedipus' story begin years after Oedipus killed his father?

2) How does the audience gain information about Oedipus's past?

3) What is the importance of the past events in Oedipus' life: the prophecy given to him, leaving his parents, meeting the stranger on the road, and defeating the Sphinx? Are any of the events in the play comparable in importance to the past events in Oedipus' life?

Essay Topic 3

Examine the nature and consequences of defying the gods in OEDIPUS THE KING.

1) How does Oedipus defy the gods? How do Laius and Jocasta defy the gods? What does the punishment seem to be for this defiance?

2) Why does Creon insist on consulting with the gods before banishing Oedipus? If the gods insist on this type of close compliance to their prophets, is there any need for a ruler as intermediary? Where is Creon's power as king, if he must defer to the gods?

3) How would the characters be best able to please the gods? What would have been the results of their actions?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 899 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample