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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the chorus leader tell Oedipus about the murderer?

2. Who does Oedipus say he's seeking vengeance for?

3. What does the chorus leader rebuke both Oedipus and Teiresias for?

4. What does the chorus leader think of Oedipus' curses on the murderer?

5. Why does Oedipus ask Creon to speak in front of the townspeople?

Short Essay Questions

1. What reason does Teiresias give for coming to see Oedipus?

2. Describe the message that Creon brings from the oracle.

3. Why is Oedipus concerned about Creon at the beginning of the play?

4. Describe how the townspeople view Oedipus.

5. What reason does Oedipus give for coming himself to see the crowd of people who have gathered at the beginning of the play?

6. Describe Oedipus's attitude toward Creon when Creon returns.

7. Describe what the people of Thebes have with them at the beginning of the play.

8. Explain the irony of Teiresias' blindness.

9. Why are the people of Thebes reluctant to think Oedipus guilty of a crime?

10. What does Oedipus wish on the murderer?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss blindness in OEDIPUS THE KING.

1) Why is the character of Teiresias blind? Does his blindness increase his prophetic ability? Does his blindness have a metaphoric quality?

2) Discuss Oedipus's choice of blindness as a punishment. Why does Oedipus choose to be blind? Is Oedipus's blindness metaphoric?

3) What other metaphoric meanings does blindness have in the story? Use quotations from the play as examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the timeline of Oedipus' story.

1) Why does Oedipus' story begin years after Oedipus killed his father?

2) How does the audience gain information about Oedipus's past?

3) What is the importance of the past events in Oedipus' life: the prophecy given to him, leaving his parents, meeting the stranger on the road, and defeating the Sphinx? Are any of the events in the play comparable in importance to the past events in Oedipus' life?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss justice in the play.

1) What acts in the play call for retribution by the gods? Why are these acts singled out? What makes an act call for justice?

2) Are the gods in the play just or unjust? Does Oedipus truly deserve punishment?

3) How does a ruler mete out justice? Is Oedipus a just ruler? What qualities in a ruler promote justice? Use examples from the play.

(see the answer keys)

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