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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Why is Creon sent away at the end of the first act of "Oedipus"?
(a) Creon is behind a rebellion to remove Oedipus from the throne.
(b) Creon must visit Delphi to learn how to end the plague.
(c) Creon is causing problems for Oedipus.
(d) Creon will get sick if he does not leave the city.

2. Where does Oedipus send Creon?
(a) Troy.
(b) Corinth.
(c) The Oracle at Delphi.
(d) The Underworld.

3. What is significant about Polyxena being given a quick death?
(a) Agamemnon defied the demands of the sacrifice for Achilles by not killing her slowly.
(b) She committed suicide.
(c) It shows the Greeks respected her courage.
(d) The gods were merciful.

4. What deception must Helen play on Polyxena?
(a) Helen must talk Polyxena into committing.
(b) Helen must suggest Polyxena pray to the wrong god so that she becomes cursed.
(c) Helen must lure Polyxena to be sacrificed under guise of a wedding.
(d) Helen is going to switch places with Polyxena to escape her husband.

5. From where does the messenger in the fourth act come in "Oedipus"?
(a) Troy.
(b) Sparta.
(c) Corinth.
(d) Thebes.

6. Why do the Greeks fear Hector's son?
(a) He will be the last rallying point for the Trojans.
(b) He is prophesied to kill them all.
(c) He is part god.
(d) They are afraid he will grow up to be as fierce as his father.

7. In the second act of "Oedipus," what knowledge does Creon relate that will end the plague?
(a) Oedipus must make a human sacrifice to Hera.
(b) Jocasta must bear another child.
(c) Laius' murder must be avenged.
(d) Oedipus must seek out a special herb.

8. What does Oedipus believe about himself in the fifth act?
(a) He is not even human anymore.
(b) He is fit to neither live or die.
(c) The gods must hate him.
(d) He deserves to live among the animals.

9. Who does Andromache blame for the fall of Troy?
(a) Paris.
(b) Helen.
(c) Achilles.
(d) Agamemnon.

10. Because of the plague, what does Oedipus consider doing because he is unable to stop it in the first act of the play?
(a) Leave Thebes.
(b) Sacrifice himself to Zeus.
(c) Raise the ghost of the murdered king.
(d) Abdicate the throne.

11. What did the Greeks admire about Polyxena?
(a) Her ability as warrior.
(b) Her courage.
(c) Her piety.
(d) Her anger.

12. About what does a Trojan elder instruct Andromache to lie?
(a) She will claim Astyanax was killed when Troy fell.
(b) She will claim that she is protected by Apollo.
(c) She will claim that she was not Hector's wife.
(d) She will claim Astyanax is hiding in the castle.

13. Who was murdered before the beginning of "Oedipus"?
(a) King Laius.
(b) King Agamemnon.
(c) King Polybus.
(d) King Priam.

14. For what purpose does Tiresias wish to take a particular action after he is unable to clarify the Oracle's message?
(a) Zeus will listen to and answer his prayers.
(b) Tiresias' willing sacrifice will end the plague.
(c) The Oracle can explain herself to him.
(d) The ghost can reveal his murderer.

15. What is revealed about Troy in the background of "Troades"?
(a) Troy is the mightiest city-state in the world.
(b) Troy has fallen to the Spartans.
(c) Troy is blessed by Zeus himself.
(d) Troy has been cursed.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the only reason that Creon reveals the information he gained from Tiresias after summoning the ghost?

2. Where does Andromache hide her son?

3. According to Hecuba, what was ignored before the fall of Troy?

4. According to the chorus, what is the best way for a man to die?

5. Why is Oedipus fearful of returning to his homeland?

(see the answer keys)

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