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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 was the messenger's profession when he found the infant Oedipus?

2. What does Creon say his current position brings?

3. What does Creon accuse Oedipus of?

4. Who first sees the old shepherd approaching?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What did the oracle at Delphi tell Oedipus about his parentage?

2. What is Jocasta's response, when Oedipus wants to find and question the shepherd that the messenger said gave him the infant Oedipus?

3. What does Jocasta's description of the place where Laius was killed mean to Oedipus?

4. How does Jocasta react to the messenger's news?

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

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

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

8. What caused the scar on Oedipus' ankles?

9. How does the chorus react to Creon's self defense?

10. How does Jocasta feel about Polybus' death?

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 denial in Oedipus.

1) When and how much does Jocasta know about Oedipus' background and crimes? Does Jocasta realize what is going on, at least on some level, and hide it from herself? What characteristics does she have that might make this plausible?

2) When and how much does Oedipus know about his own background and crimes? Is Oedipus in denial of his crimes at all?

3) Does the chorus seem to have any inkling of the truth? Is it possible that the people of the town could be in denial? Support your reasoning with evidence from the text.

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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