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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 Jocasta ask Oedipus to do regarding her brother?

2. What is Jocasta's answer, when Oedipus asks how tall and old Laius was?

3. What gives Oedipus hope that he did not kill Laius?

4. What part of her and Laius' infant child does Jocasta say Laius bound?

5. What does Creon say Oedipus should do to get proof of Creon's innocence?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the chorus' foremost concern?

2. How did Polybus die?

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

4. What favor did Jocasta do for the person who told her about Laius' death?

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

6. What prophecy does Jocasta tell Oedipus about?

7. What is the first thing Oedipus tells Jocasta, when he tells her about the argument between himself and Creon?

8. What is the shepherd's reaction to being questioned about the infant he gave away and being told that Oedipus is that infant?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss dramatic irony in OEDIPUS THE KING.

1) How does the fact that the audience knows the story of Oedipus affect the way the writer tells the story? How could the story be told differently, if the audience were unfamiliar with it?

2) How does dramatic irony affect the audience's perception of Oedipus? Is the audience more or less sympathetic toward Oedipus? Why or why not? How does the audience perceive Oedipus' quarrels with Teiresias and Creon?

3) How does dramatic irony affect the audience's perception of Jocasta?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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