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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the position of the chorus, as stated by the chorus leader, in the conflict between Oedipus and Creon?
(a) Oedipus should resign as king.
(b) Oedipus should not judge Creon prematurely.
(c) Oedipus needs to question Teiresias more closely.
(d) Oedipus needs to defend himself.

2. Where did Laius order his infant child to be put?
(a) in a field
(b) in the ocean
(c) on a mountain
(d) in a river

3. What does Creon accuse Oedipus of?
(a) framing him to cover Oedipus's own crimes
(b) being power hungry and greedy
(c) being stupid and not the one to answer the Sphinx's riddle
(d) being stubborn and forgetting common sense

4. What does Creon deny that he has a desire to do?
(a) mar Teiresias's reputation
(b) rule as king
(c) hurt his sister
(d) gain wealth

5. How long would the shepherds stay in the fields each year?
(a) three months
(b) six months
(c) one month
(d) nine months

6. Why does Oedipus say he must remain afraid?
(a) because his mother is still alive
(b) because they have no proof of what the messenger says
(c) because the prophecy will probably be fulfilled in some surprising way
(d) because the prophets speak for the gods

7. What does Creon do initially when he hears Oedipus charged him with causing Teiresias to lie?
(a) flees the city of Thebes
(b) talks to the people of Thebes
(c) challenges Oedipus to a fight
(d) makes a counterclaim of treason against Oedipus

8. What does Jocasta chide Oedipus and Creon for?
(a) not listening to each other
(b) fighting when the town's in trouble
(c) not listening to the oracle
(d) making the gods upset

9. Who asks the old shepherd whether he gave an infant baby to the messenger years ago?
(a) Oedipus
(b) the messenger
(c) the chorus leader
(d) Jocasta

10. When Creon turns the tables and begins questioning Oedipus, what is the first question he asks?
(a) whether the townspeople believe Oedipus is guilty
(b) whether Oedipus is married to Creon's sister
(c) whether Oedipus killed Laius
(d) whether there is some unknown explanation for Teiresias's information

11. What part of her and Laius' infant child does Jocasta say Laius bound?
(a) his knees
(b) his wrists
(c) his ankles
(d) his elbows

12. How does the messenger say Jocasta will feel about his news?
(a) sad and regretful
(b) enraged
(c) glad and happy
(d) both glad and sad

13. Who does the chorus think can help end the conflict between Creon and Oedipus?
(a) the oracle
(b) Jocasta
(c) Apollo
(d) Teiresias

14. In the encounter between Oedipus and the stranger in the carriage, what was the initial violent act?
(a) The stranger struck Oedipus with his sword.
(b) The stranger whipped Oedipus.
(c) The herald struck Oedipus with his sword.
(d) Oedipus whipped the stranger.

15. Does Oedipus want to see the person the messenger says gave him the infant Oedipus?
(a) No, Oedipus is afraid of what the person might say.
(b) Yes, Oedipus wants to send the person out of town.
(c) Yes, Oedipus wants to question the person to find the truth.
(d) No, Oedipus doesn't think the person is important.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does the messenger say gave Oedipus to Polybus?

2. What city was the father who raised Oedipus from?

3. What does Oedipus tell Jocasta, when she begs him to tell her what's troubling him?

4. Does the messenger identify the shepherd as the man he mentioned earlier?

5. What does the chorus leader say he does not know about Oedipus'scharges against Creon?

(see the answer keys)

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