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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What course of action does the chorus leader suggest Oedipus should take?
(a) search every house in the city
(b) consult the prophet Teiresias
(c) send another emissary to Delphi
(d) look inside his own palace

2. What is Oedipus' attitude toward Teiresias when he first speaks to the prophet?
(a) derisive and snide
(b) defensive and annoyed
(c) deferential and complimentary
(d) angry and ironic

3. Why does Oedipus say his sorrow is greater than the townspeople?
(a) Oedipus says his personal loss from the plague is worse than anyone else's.
(b) Oedipus has sorrow for himself, the city, and all the townspeople.
(c) Oedipus is full of fear that he will be dethroned.
(d) Oedipus's heart is greater and therefore his sorrow is greater.

4. What does Creon say stopped the city from looking into the king's death?
(a) a war with Corinth
(b) a plague on the crops
(c) a storm that destroyed the town
(d) trouble with the Sphinx

5. Who does the priest say has gathered?
(a) all the sick and elderly townspeople
(b) everyone but those ill from disease
(c) all the young and hearty townspeople
(d) townspeople from the very young to the very old

6. What does Teiresias answer when Oedipus asks the identity of his father?
(a) That Oedipus has two fathers.
(b) That Oedipus will be better off not knowing.
(c) That it will be revealed today and destroy Oedipus.
(d) That Oedipus truly knows who his father is.

7. How does Teiresias respond when Oedipus says the prophet speaks in riddles?
(a) that life is a riddle
(b) that the truth is as complex as a riddle
(c) that Oedipus is good at solving riddles
(d) that Oedipus will wish this riddle were never solved

8. What does Creon say about Laius' companions when he was killed?
(a) The king was alone.
(b) They all ran away.
(c) They were all killed but one, who ran away.
(d) They were all killed.

9. Who does Teiresias say he serves?
(a) Apollo
(b) Oedipus
(c) Zeus
(d) Creon

10. What does the priest point out about Oedipus overcoming the Sphinx?
(a) Oedipus defeated the Sphinx only out of sheer luck.
(b) Oedipus had no more knowledge or instruction than the townspeople, and yet was able to solve the riddle.
(c) Oedipus used superior training to defeat the Sphinx, and no one else had the same benefits.
(d) Oedipus was able to defeat the Sphinx because of his powerful arm and his connections to royalty.

11. What does the chorus leader tell Oedipus about the murderer?
(a) that he suspects who the murderer is but doesn't know
(b) that the murderer likely had nothing to do with Thebes
(c) that he is not the murderer and doesn't know who the murderer is
(d) that he doesn't want to know who the murderer is

12. What does Oedipus say he's been doing in his sorrow?
(a) He's been offering sacrifices to all the gods.
(b) He's been thinking about possible paths to a solution.
(c) He's been paralyzed by the horror that's come on the town.
(d) He's been carefully questioning all the townspeople who could help.

13. Why does the chorus think it's time for the murderer to flee?
(a) Zeus' son, Apollo, is against him.
(b) Teiresias will eventually name him.
(c) Oedipus is against him.
(d) The ire of the city is rising against him.

14. What reason does Teiresias give for not answering Oedipus' questions?
(a) He isn't sure about what he knows.
(b) He doesn't want to cause them both grief.
(c) He knows the truth, but the gods have told him not to say.
(d) He does not believe his own visions.

15. What does Oedipus ask Teiresias to do, after Teiresias says Oedipus is the murderer?
(a) leave Thebes immediately
(b) fall on his knees and pray
(c) repeat what he's said
(d) fight him

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Oedipus' initial attitude toward the crowd that has gathered?

2. What does Teiresias say Oedipus doesn't know?

3. What does Oedipus say about the fact that Laius' death wasn't looked into before?

4. What does Oedipus say he has to fear from Laius' murderer?

5. What does Oedipus wish for himself, if he unknowingly hosted the murderer at his home?

(see the answer keys)

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