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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What does Jocasta say before she leaves?
(a) that she'll run away from Oedipus
(b) that she'll never speak again
(c) that she'll join Laius
(d) that she'll never see Thebes again

6. What does Oedipus say the chorus' position will result in?
(a) Creon becoming a tyrannt
(b) Oedipus' exile or death
(c) destruction of Thebes
(d) war with Corinth

7. What does Oedipus seem to think Jocasta is afraid of learning about his birth?
(a) that he's older than they believed
(b) that he's Polybus' son after all
(c) that he's of low social status
(d) that he's not born of natural parents

8. Where does the messenger want Oedipus to go?
(a) back to Corinth
(b) away from both Thebes and Corinth
(c) to his mother on the outskirts of Thebes
(d) into the mountains of Thebes

9. What does Creon say Oedipus can do, if he finds proof Creon's lying?
(a) banish Creon from the kingdom forever
(b) kill Creon before his sister's eyes
(c) arrest Creon and sentence him to death
(d) cut Creon's throat then and there

10. Who does the shepherd say gave him the infant child?
(a) Laius's servant
(b) Laius
(c) Jocasta
(d) Jocasta's maid

11. Where did the messenger find the infant Oedipus?
(a) in the valleys of Clithaeron
(b) on the border of Corinth
(c) on the doorstep of his home
(d) by the banks of a river

12. When Jocasta begs him to stop his investigation and runs off, how does Oedipus say he feels about potentially discovering something bad about his natural parents?
(a) Oedipus believes that his natural family will turn out to be even better than his adopted one.
(b) Oedipus is afraid that if he finds out his true heritage, the people may not want him as king.
(c) Oedipus is afraid that he will find out that the prophecy is already fulfilled.
(d) Oedipus is not concerned and wants to know his true origin.

13. What was Oedipus' response to the information he got from the oracle at Delphi, when he asked about his parentage?
(a) Oedipus confined himself to a room in his father's palace.
(b) Oedipus asked the oracle for more clarity.
(c) Oedipus ran away from Corinth.
(d) Oedipus went to ask his parents about it.

14. What simile does Jocasta use to describe the people of Thebes?
(a) like people in a carriage who see the driver terrified
(b) like soldiers who see their commander slain
(c) like children who see their father's fear
(d) like people on a ship who see the helmsman is afraid

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Oedipus do when the shepherd won't tell about giving away the infant?

2. Who does Jocasta send for after hearing the messenger's news?

3. What was the messenger's profession when he found the infant Oedipus?

4. Does the chorus leader recognize the approaching shepherd?

5. In the encounter between Oedipus and the stranger in the carriage, what was the initial violent act?

(see the answer keys)

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