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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does Oedipus do when the messenger questions him about the prophecy that drove Oedipus away from his parents?
(a) Oedipus tells the messenger the prophecy.
(b) Oedipus tells the messenger to ask the prophet about it.
(c) Oedipus tells the messenger he has no wish to repeat the prophecy, or think about it.
(d) Oedipus tells the messenger he has no right to know the prophecy.

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

4. What does Oedipus ask Creon about Teiresias?
(a) how long Teiresias has been blind
(b) how long Teiresias has lived in Thebes
(c) whether Teiresias makes a profit from the town because of his prophesies
(d) why Teiresias didn't give the identity of Laius' murderer at the time of the death

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

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

7. What does Jocasta advise Oedipus about his fears?
(a) to ignore prophecies and live life as best he can
(b) to act to try to fulfill the prophecy
(c) to accept the prophecy, since he can't change the future
(d) to act to try to avoid the prophecy

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

9. What does Oedipus tell the messenger he regrets about leaving Corinth?
(a) having taken on the burden of ruling Thebes
(b) having met Creon
(c) having met Jocasta
(d) not seeing his parents

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

11. What does the messenger ask the chorus when he first arrives?
(a) where to find Teiresias
(b) where to find Oedipus' home
(c) where to find Jocasta
(d) where to find Creon's home

12. Who does the messenger say gave Oedipus to Polybus?
(a) Creon
(b) a stranger
(c) Laius
(d) the messenger

13. What does Oedipus ask, when Jocasta tells Oedipus the messenger's news?
(a) He asks the messenger to tell him the news himself.
(b) He asks a servant to bring Teiresias to him.
(c) He asks Jocasta to leave him and go to the palace.
(d) He asks a servant to bring Creon to him.

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

15. Who does Jocasta say Laius had with him, as an escort?
(a) five men, including a herald
(b) no one
(c) fifteen of the best men
(d) ten heralds

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does the chorus think can help end the conflict between Creon and Oedipus?

2. What made Oedipus angry, when he encountered the stranger's carriage on the road?

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

4. 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?

5. Who is with the approaching shepherd?

(see the answer keys)

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