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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does the chorus leader say he does not know about Oedipus'scharges against Creon?
(a) what charges Oedipus made against Creon
(b) Oedipus's steadiness and state of mind when making the charges
(c) whether Creon understand the charges Oedipus made
(d) whether Teiresias was there when Oedipus made the charges

2. What is Jocasta's answer, when Oedipus asks how tall and old Laius was?
(a) Laius was old and bent, but tall.
(b) Laius was big and had white hair.
(c) Laius was skinny and tall and young-looking.
(d) Laius was small with a gray beard.

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

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

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

6. What children did Polybus have before Oedipus?
(a) none
(b) a daughter who died
(c) a son who died
(d) a son who was stolen away

7. Why does Jocasta come to pray to Apollo?
(a) to ask for Oedipus to be banished
(b) to ask for her own safety
(c) to cleanse what is corrupting Thebes
(d) to pray that Oedipus be forgiven

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

9. What does Oedipus first say to Jocasta, after questioning the messenger about Polybus' death?
(a) He regrets that he left his home in Corinth without reason.
(b) He says that this foretells a new era of prosperity in Thebes.
(c) He says he must immediately leave for Corinth to see his mother.
(d) He wonders why anyone would pay homage to Apollo's prophets.

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

11. Why does the messenger tell Oedipus he is not Polybus' son?
(a) The messenger wants to stop Oedipus from offending Apollo.
(b) The messenger wants to prove prophecies are meaningless.
(c) The messenger wants to relieve Oedipus's fear.
(d) The messenger wants to frighten Oedipus.

12. What does Jocasta ask Oedipus to do regarding her brother?
(a) make her responsible for Creon
(b) trust that Creon is telling the truth
(c) hold Creon in prison until he can discover the truth
(d) send Creon away instead of killing him

13. What does Jocasta bring to the shrine of Apollo outside the castle gates?
(a) a scarlet cape
(b) a garland and incense
(c) her youngest child
(d) a gift from Teiresias

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

15. What does Creon say can validate a man who is true?
(a) prophecy
(b) nature
(c) time
(d) the gods

Short Answer Questions

1. What part of her and Laius' infant child does Jocasta say Laius bound?

2. What does Oedipus tell the messenger he regrets about leaving Corinth?

3. What is Oedipus' initial reaction when Creon asks to explain himself?

4. Who first sees the old shepherd approaching?

5. What does Creon do initially when he hears Oedipus charged him with causing Teiresias to lie?

(see the answer keys)

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