Oedipus The King Quiz Questions
Select the correct answer for the following questions.
- 1.
What is the priest doing at the beginning of the play?
- A.
Asking for money
- B.
Accusing Creon
- C.
Asking Teiresias for help
- D.
Asking the gods for help
Correct Answer
D. Asking the gods for helpExplanation
At the beginning of the play, the priest is asking the gods for help. This is evident from the fact that the priest approaches Oedipus, who is the king, seeking his assistance in finding a solution to the plague that has struck the city. The priest believes that Oedipus has the power to communicate with the gods and can therefore seek their help in ending the plague. Hence, the priest's primary objective is to ask the gods for help in order to alleviate the suffering of the people.Rate this question:
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- 2.
Why is the priest doing this?
- A.
The priest is poor
- B.
It's a holiday
- C.
Creon asked him to
- D.
There is a plague on the city
Correct Answer
D. There is a plague on the cityExplanation
The priest is performing his duties because there is a plague on the city. During times of crisis and illness, it is common for religious figures to be called upon to provide guidance, support, and perform rituals to seek divine intervention. The priest's actions are driven by the urgent need to address the plague and offer solace to the affected population.Rate this question:
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- 3.
What is Creon’s relationship to Jocasta?
- A.
Son
- B.
Uncle
- C.
Father
- D.
Brother
Correct Answer
D. BrotherExplanation
Creon's relationship to Jocasta is that of a brother. This means that they share the same parents and are siblings.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Who was the blind prophet?
- A.
Teiresias
- B.
Polybus
- C.
Oedipus
- D.
Creon
Correct Answer
A. TeiresiasExplanation
Teiresias is the correct answer because he is a well-known figure in Greek mythology and literature as a blind prophet. He appears in various plays and stories, including Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, where he plays a crucial role in revealing the truth to Oedipus about his fate and the consequences of his actions. Teiresias' blindness is often seen as a metaphor for his heightened ability to perceive the truth and see beyond the physical world.Rate this question:
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- 5.
What does Tiresias tell Oedipus?
- A.
That Jocasta killed Laius
- B.
That Oedipus killed Laius
- C.
That Creon killed Laius
- D.
That Polybus killed Laius
Correct Answer
B. That Oedipus killed LaiusExplanation
Tiresias tells Oedipus that he is the one who killed Laius. This revelation is significant because it confirms the prophecy that Oedipus would murder his father, which he had been trying to avoid. It also leads to the realization that Oedipus is actually Jocasta's son and has unknowingly married his own mother. This revelation sets off a chain of events that ultimately leads to Oedipus' downfall and tragic fate.Rate this question:
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- 6.
How does Oedipus react to Tiresias's announcement?
- A.
He thinks Creon is behind it.
- B.
He thinks Jocasta told Tiresias waht to say
- C.
He thinks Tiresias is drunk
- D.
He thinks Jocasta and Creon are working together against Oedipus
Correct Answer
A. He thinks Creon is behind it.Explanation
Oedipus reacts to Tiresias's announcement by thinking that Creon is behind it.Rate this question:
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- 7.
Whom did Oedipus believe was his father?
- A.
Creon
- B.
The blind prophet
- C.
Polybus
- D.
Merope
Correct Answer
C. PolybusExplanation
Oedipus believed that Polybus was his father. This belief was based on the fact that Polybus and his wife Merope had raised him as their own son. However, it is later revealed that Oedipus is not actually Polybus' biological son, but rather the son of King Laius and Queen Jocasta. This revelation is a significant plot point in the tragic play "Oedipus Rex" by Sophocles.Rate this question:
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- 8.
Who is Oedipus's mother?
- A.
Antigone
- B.
Jocasta
- C.
Merope
- D.
None of the above
Correct Answer
B. JocastaExplanation
Jocasta is the correct answer because in Greek mythology, Jocasta is the mother and wife of Oedipus. Oedipus unknowingly marries his own mother after solving the riddle of the Sphinx and becoming the king of Thebes. This tragic story is famously known as the Oedipus complex.Rate this question:
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- 9.
From whose curse did Oedipus rescue Thebes?
- A.
Creon's
- B.
Lauis's
- C.
Sphinx's
- D.
Jocasta
Correct Answer
C. SpHinx'sExplanation
Oedipus rescued Thebes from the curse of the Sphinx. In Greek mythology, the Sphinx was a creature with the head of a human and the body of a lion, who posed a riddle to anyone who passed by. Those who failed to solve the riddle were killed by the Sphinx. Oedipus successfully answered the riddle, freeing Thebes from the Sphinx's curse and becoming a hero in the process.Rate this question:
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- 10.
By the end of the play, Oedipus knows he has killed whom?
- A.
Creon
- B.
Jocasta
- C.
Lauis
- D.
The blind prophet
Correct Answer
C. LauisExplanation
By the end of the play, Oedipus realizes that he has unknowingly killed his own father, Lauis. This realization comes as a shock to Oedipus as he uncovers the truth about his past and the prophecy that he would kill his father and marry his mother. This revelation leads to Oedipus gouging out his own eyes in a fit of despair and guilt.Rate this question:
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Sep 15, 2023Quiz Edited by
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Oct 26, 2009Quiz Created by
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