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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 Creon say about Laius' companions when he was killed?

2. Who does Teiresias accuse as the murderer?

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

4. What does the chorus say about Oedipus' possible motive for killing Laius?

5. What does Oedipus say he's been doing in his sorrow?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Oedipus wish on the murderer?

3. Why doesn't Creon immediately tell Oedipus his news?

4. What is the attitude of the townspeople when they speak to Oedipus?

5. Explain the irony of Teiresias' blindness.

6. What is Teiresias referring to when he says Oedipus and his children will be "equals"?

7. What rumor does the chorus leader remind Oedipus of?

8. Why doesn't Oedipus listen to Teiresias?

9. How does Oedipus' attitude toward Teiresias change during their first discussion?

10. What does Oedipus wish for any townspeople who don't obey his orders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Oedipus's justification of choosing blindness and exile as his punishment.

1) Why does Oedipus feel the need to punish himself for his "crimes'?

2) Why does Oedipus choose the particular punishment of blindness? Why does Oedipus want to be exiled from Thebes?

3) Will Oedipus's punishment fit his crime? Is Oedipus's punishment a fair one? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Oedipus as a tragic hero.

1) What are the qualities of a tragic hero, and how does Oedipus embody those qualities? Are there any ways in which Oedipus is not a tragic hero?

2) What is Oedipus' tragic flaw? How does it contribute to his downfall?

3) The chorus comments on how far Oedipus has fallen in the end of the play. Why is it important for a tragic hero to be a mighty person who falls to a low position? How does Oedipus fulfill this aspect of the tragic hero?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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