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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay 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 needs to defend himself.
(b) Oedipus should resign as king.
(c) Oedipus should not judge Creon prematurely.
(d) Oedipus needs to question Teiresias more closely.

2. Who first sees the old shepherd approaching?
(a) the chorus
(b) Oedipus
(c) Jocasta
(d) the messenger

3. What does Oedipus tell Jocasta, when she begs him to tell her what's troubling him?
(a) He tells her that there is nothing troubling her.
(b) He refuses to tell her, since what he suspects is so bad.
(c) He yells at her and sends her into the palace.
(d) He agrees to tell her his worries.

4. What was the messenger's profession when he found the infant Oedipus?
(a) farmer
(b) tailor
(c) shepherd
(d) priest

5. What does Oedipus ask about Polybus' death?
(a) what the cause of his death was
(b) whether his mother knows of the death
(c) what Polybus said before his death
(d) what time of day he died

Short Answer Questions

1. Does Oedipus want to see the person the messenger says gave him the infant Oedipus?

2. Who does the shepherd say gave him the infant child?

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

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. Where did the messenger find the infant Oedipus?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the chorus' foremost concern?

2. How does Jocasta feel about Polybus' death?

3. Why does Jocasta try to stop Oedipus from trying to find out the truth of his birth?

4. What is the chorus' attitude toward Oedipus, in his conflict with Creon?

5. What is Oedipus's attitude toward his wife?

6. What prophecy does Jocasta tell Oedipus about?

7. What does Oedipus say, when he finally finds out the truth about his past and his present situation?

8. What main news does the messenger from Corinth bring?

9. Why does Oedipus question how his father could love him?

10. How does Creon seem to react to Oedipus leveling charges against him?

(see the answer keys)

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