English || Oedipus Reading, 237 Questions and
Correct Answers, Test Bank with complete
solution. Updated 2024/2025.
What is significant about the fact that the first line of the play is a question?
creates a dismal mood, the questioning also prepares us for a play of mystery
How does Oedipus choose the spokesman of the group of supplicants?
He chooses the oldest person
What is your first impression of oedipus?
He is arrogant
What problem is afflicting Thebes at the time?
A strange plague is causing sickness and suffering crops, herds and unborn children are dying
What is the House of Cadmus?
Original name of the city of Thebes (founded by Cadmus)
How does the Priest the supplicants view Oedipus? How does this begin to establish Oedipus as an
Aristotelian tragic hero?
Priest says they don't view Oedipus as a God, but as the primary of men. This holds with Aristotle's view
that a tragic hero had to be a god, demi-god or hero
In case we didnt already know it, what exposition does the Priest provide in this scene?
Priest reminds the audience that Oedipus is the hero who solved the riddle of the sphinx and free the
city of Theebes from its bondage
Why do the supplicants believe that Oedipus will be able to find a solution to the famine?
Bc he had no human help when he solved the riddle of the sphinx so he must of had divine help. They
hope he consuts his divine aides and find the cause of the famine
Why does Oedipus claim he suffers even more than supplicants?
He says each supplicant suffers only for himself individually but he suffers for the individual subject, his
subjects generally and for himself
What impression do we get from Oedipus based on his language?
He is very proud and pomous
What action has Oedipus taken to find an answer to the city's problem?
,Sent Creon to the oracle at Delphi to find out what could be said or done to save the city
What is oedipus and Creon's relationship?
Creon is Oedipus' brother in law-the brother of Queen Jocasta
What is foreshadowed by Oedipus' promise to the Priest?
Oedipus promises he will do whatever the oracle commands. This foreshadows he probably will be
commanded to do extremely unpleasant of even impossible task to end the famine
Why does the Priest suspect Creon brings good news?
Bc he is wearing a crown made from a Laurel, the tree of Apollo, and believes he would not do so if he
brought bad news
When Creon arrives from Delphi what does Oedipus insist that he do? What does this indicate about
his character?
Creon wants to speak in private about the Oracle but Oedipus insists everyone should hear. It shows he
loves his subjects but also a thoughtless, impetuous streak
Why do you suppose creon wants to talk in oedipus in private?
Creon knows that his sister Jocasta's son was destined to murder his father. The Father (Lauis) has been
murdered and he probably wants to protect his family
What does Creon report from the Oracle?
The murderer of Lauis has not been found. He is in Thebes and is the direct cause of the plague.The killer
must be exiled or murdered to end the plague
What is Oedipus' reaction to Creon's information?
He asks questions about Lauis' murder to find more info about it to help find the murderer and purge the
city
Explain the dramatic irony in Oedipus' interrogation of Creon
The audience knows the story, that Oedipus is Lauis' killer
What is ironic about the one survivor's testimony?
The one survivor has lied all these years, claiming that Lauis was beset by robbers?
What theory does Oedipus immediately develop about Lauis' death?
That the murderer was part of a plot assassinate the king
Why did the citizens of Thebes not investiage Lauis' murder at the time it occurred?
They were to preoccupied with the Sphinx which was tormenting the city
What does Oedipus promise to do? Why, according to OEdipus, must his resolution be strong?
, To avenge the murder of Lauis. He believes it is his duty as king to save his people and the murderer
might even hurt him
Why does the Chorus appear at this point in the play?
THe conflict has been introduced and the plot set in motion. Now is an appropriate time to pause, reflect
and evaluate
What voices does the Chorus represent?
The voice of the Theban commoners, praying for relief from their family
Give details of how the Chorus describes the city to the gods.
They tell the Gods that their crops arent growing, their children are stillborn and many people are dying.
The dead are lying on the ground and there are few others left to mourn them.
What does Ares represent to the Chorus? What various things do they wish for him?
They Plague itself. They wish Ares blown out of the citry all the way to the oceans and also ask Zeus to
strike him with thunderbolts.
What is ironic about the curse Oedipus places on the murderer of Lauis?
He is placing the curse on himself
In Oedipus' long speech beginning "Ye pray; 'tis well, but would ye hear my words." What is tone?
He is confident (almost arrogant) in his power to give his people relief from the plague. He is responding
to what the people have just asked the gods to solve
Why does Oedipus insist that he will seek out and avenge Lauis' murderer?
Laius and Jocasta had no children so oedipus will take on this revenge as if Lauis were his own father
In this speech, Oedipus refers to Lauis' descendants as "ill-fated" but to his own good fortune in
obtaining Lauis' throne as driven by "chance" Explain the difference between these two concepts and
why OEdipus might choose to characterize these events in different ways.
Ill fated seems to refer to a predetermined destiny to have no children, which Lauis could not escape or
control. "chance" syggest Oedipus ascension to the one was not predtermined or inescapable, but a
random occurance bc oedipus is attempting to escape his fate as told in prophecy and feels his
succeeding, his life is viewed as governed by chace and by others as fated
Structurally, why is it appropriate for the Chorus to appear now?
To mark the beginning of the rising of action and to build suspense
Once again, in whose voice does the chorus speak?
The Theban commoner
Why is it significant that it was Creon whom Oedipus sent to the Oracle and now it is Creon whom
Oedipus has sent to get Tiresias?
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