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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Oedipus ask of the citizens of Thebes?
(a) He orders them to go to the shrines and give offerings to the gods.
(b) He orders them to hold a great celebration in the town.
(c) He orders them to gather together and stay in their houses.
(d) He orders them to reveal the murderer, if they know who he is.

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

3. What does Creon say stopped the city from looking into the king's death?
(a) a war with Corinth
(b) a storm that destroyed the town
(c) trouble with the Sphinx
(d) a plague on the crops

4. What does Oedipus say the killers had to have?
(a) a dictate from a god
(b) financial help from Thebes
(c) a promise of reward from Corinth
(d) a dictate from a prophet

5. What does Teiresias say makes him strong?
(a) anger
(b) his powers
(c) the truth
(d) the gods

6. What does Creon say of the news he brings?
(a) It's hard to interpret if it's good or bad.
(b) It's both good and bad news.
(c) It's bad news.
(d) It's good news.

7. What does Teiresias say Oedipus doesn't know?
(a) the family he's come from
(b) the true wishes of the gods
(c) the power of prophecy
(d) the name of the murderer

8. What does Creon say about the god's call to avenge Laius' death now?
(a) He says it is too late for revenge.
(b) He says it will be an easy task.
(c) He says the gods have asked the impossible.
(d) He says it is fitting.

9. Who does the priest say has gathered?
(a) everyone but those ill from disease
(b) all the sick and elderly townspeople
(c) all the young and hearty townspeople
(d) townspeople from the very young to the very old

10. What does Oedipus accuse Creon of?
(a) trying to overthrow him for the sake of power and riches
(b) wanting to marry Jocasta himself
(c) setting the Sphinx upon Thebes
(d) killing Laius and causing the plagues

11. What does the chorus say about Oedipus' possible motive for killing Laius?
(a) The chorus thinks Oedipus may have desired the throne.
(b) The chorus knows of no quarrel between the two houses.
(c) The chorus thinks Oedipus may have been angry.
(d) The chorus remembers rumors of a quarrel between the two houses.

12. Who speaks for the people of Thebes as their leader?
(a) the oracle
(b) the parliamentary leader
(c) the prophet of Hera
(d) the priest of Zeus

13. How has Teiresias' pronouncement made the chorus feel?
(a) irritated
(b) fearful
(c) angry
(d) sorrowful

14. Why does Oedipus say his sorrow is greater than the townspeople?
(a) Oedipus has sorrow for himself, the city, and all the townspeople.
(b) Oedipus is full of fear that he will be dethroned.
(c) Oedipus says his personal loss from the plague is worse than anyone else's.
(d) Oedipus's heart is greater and therefore his sorrow is greater.

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Where has Oedipus sent Creon?

2. What does Creon say about Laius' companions when he was killed?

3. What does the chorus leader rebuke both Oedipus and Teiresias for?

4. What is Creon's relationship to Oedipus?

5. Where does Creon say Laius was when he was killed?

(see the answer keys)

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