View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who punishes Laius for kidnapping and murdering his friend's son?
(a) King of Argos.
(b) The Oracle of Apollo.
(c) The Spinx.
(d) King of Thebes.

2. How many Gates of Thebes are there?
(a) 7.
(b) 5.
(c) 9.
(d) 3.

3. Plays performed in ancient Greece highlight all of the following aspects of city life, except _____.
(a) Religious life.
(b) Social life.
(c) Cultural life.
(d) Private life.

4. Plays based on Greek legend usually involve a generation after generation repeating a ______.
(a) Crime.
(b) Fable.
(c) Story.
(d) Resistance.

5. Plays in ancient Greece are produced as part of what type of ceremony?
(a) A pilgrimage.
(b) A eulogy.
(c) A religious festival.
(d) An offering.

Short Answer Questions

1. The theme of these legends is that giving in to human passion creates _________.

2. The Oracle foretells Laius that Oedipus would one day ______ him.

3. The women of Thebes pray to the gods to remember their faithfulness and protect them so they can continue to do what?

4. Who says, "Their reports will save me from all traps and deceptions?"

5. _______ rescues Oedipus and raises him to adulthood.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the theme of fate as depicted in part 2 of the play.

2. What threat does Eteocles give to the citizens of Thebes? Why do you think Eteocles threatens the citizens?

3. Was the decision between Eteocles and Polyneices to share time as king of Thebes a fair and just agreement? Explain.

4. Describe Laius' character.

5. How do you think Eteocles is like a captain of a ship?

6. Describe the theme of blindness.

7. Give two examples of the theme: power of curses as seen in the play, Seven Against Thebes.

8. Describe Laius' reaction to the Oracle's foreshadowing of Oedipus' life. Was his reaction justified? Explain.

9. In part 1 of the play, who describes the imagery of the waves? What do the waves represent?

10. What is the irony behind Oedipus solving "the Riddle of the Sphinx with his brilliance" ?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 674 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample