Print
Word
PDF
|
| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Oedipus ask, when Jocasta tells Oedipus the messenger's news?
2. How does the messenger say Jocasta will feel about his news?
3. 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?
4. What does Jocasta bring to the shrine of Apollo outside the castle gates?
5. Where did the old shepherd grow up?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is Oedipus's attitude toward his wife?
2. What does Oedipus say, when he finally finds out the truth about his past and his present situation?
3. How does Creon seem to react to Oedipus leveling charges against him?
4. When Oedipus is questioning Creon, why does he ask Creon how long it's been since Laius was killed?
5. What does Jocasta's description of the place where Laius was killed mean to Oedipus?
6. How does the chorus react to Creon's self defense?
7. Why does Oedipus question how his father could love him?
8. What caused the scar on Oedipus' ankles?
9. How does Oedipus react to Creon's self defense?
10. What did the oracle at Delphi tell Oedipus about his parentage?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
In OEDIPUS THE KING, much of the action takes place offstage or in different times, and is retold by the characters and messengers. Discuss how this affects the play.
1) How is hearing about Jocasta's suicide from the second messenger a different experience than seeing it?
2) How is hearing Oeidpus retell the story of meeting Laius on the road different from seeing it?
3) How effective is it for Oedipus to come on stage with his eyes gouged out at the end of the play? Is it more affecting since most of the violence of the play takes place offstage?
4) What other effects does the action taking place offstage have on the play?
Essay Topic 2
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.
Essay Topic 3
Discuss free will and predestination in OEDIPUS THE KING.
1) Is Oedipus predestined to his fate, or does he have free will? Are these two ideas completely incompatible?
2) Can Oedipus be held responsible for his actions, if his fate is predestined?
3) How does predestination affect the position of a ruler? Are all the joys and woes that befall the ruler's lands predestined? What is the role of the leader, if fate is predestined?
|
This section contains 909 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
|
