Comprehension Questions
In Oedipus the King, Part I, what danger threatens the city of Thebes?
a. an epidemic of the plague
b. a large-scale economic crisis
c. an invasion by an enemy army
d. a severe and long-lasting drought
a. an epidemic of the plague
If a respected king gave new edicts to his loyal subjects, how would his subjects most likely respond to them? Base your answer on the meaning of edicts.
a. They would adopt them.
b. They would ignore them.
c. They would challenge them.
d. They would keep them a secret.
a. They would adopt them.
According to Oedipus the King, Part I, which is the most reasonable inference to draw about what kind of king Oedipus is?
a. responsible and considerate
b. mysterious and secretive
c. charming and talented
d. fierce and terrifying
a. responsible and considerate
The prologue of Oedipus the King, Part I, ends as Creon and Oedipus leave the stage with the Priest. The chorus then sings the parados. Which best describes the purpose served by the parados?
a. The parados emphasizes the Thebans’ determination to find the murderer.
b. The parados underscores the anxiety and despair felt throughout Thebes.
c. The parados provides details of the evil deeds of the murderer of Laius.
d. The parados shows that the people no longer have faith in the gods.
b. The parados underscores the anxiety and despair felt throughout Thebes.
In Oedipus the King, Part I, what instructions does Creon receive from the oracle?
a. Thebes must build a new temple to Apollo.
b. Thebes must punish the murderer of Laius.
c. Thebes must solve the riddle of the Sphinx.
d. Thebes must make a sacrifice to the oracle.
b. Thebes must punish the murderer of Laius.
Which is the best example of a decree you might hear in court? Base your answer on the meaning of decree.
a. a judge’s final ruling of a trial
b. a defendant’s plea of innocence
c. a lawyer’s argument in defense of a client
d. a lawyer’s objection to a witness’s testimony
a. a judge’s final ruling of a trial
In Oedipus the King, Part I, Oedipus asks Teiresias for guidance and help in finding the murderer of Laius. Teiresias replies, “Alas! It is a miserable thing to be wise when wisdom brings no reward.” Which best explains Teiresias’ meaning?
a. He believes that identifying the murderer will only make matters worse
for everyone.
b. He does not want to reveal the murderer’s name unless he is promised a
handsome payment.
c. He hopes to conceal the loss of his wisdom by refusing to tell Oedipus
who the murderer is.
d. He no longer remembers the name of the murderer but does not want to
lose a reward by admitting it.
a. He believes that identifying the murderer will only make matters worse
Which best describes the mood of the chorus in the ode that follows the Oedipus-Teiresias episode of Oedipus the King, Part I?
a. furious at Teiresias’ accusations and calling for his execution
b. suspicious of Oedipus’ bluster and insisting he confess the truth
c. distressed at Teiresias’ revelations and uncertain what to do next
d. confident that Oedipus will calm down and hopeful for a swift resolution
c. distressed at Teiresias’ revelations and uncertain what to do next
When Teiresias appears before Oedipus in Oedipus the King, Part I, what claims does he state? Choose two options
a. He claims that the oracle has not spoken truly.
b. He claims that Oedipus caused his blindness.
c. He claims that Creon ordered him to speak.
d. He claims that Laius was Oedipus’ father.
e. He claims that Oedipus murdered Laius.
d. He claims that Laius was Oedipus’ father.
and
e. He claims that Oedipus murdered Laius.
Which of the following situations best illustrates the meaning of proclamation?
a. a priest raising an olive branch to the sun
b. a large crowd cheering for a king
c. a queen giving a speech
d. a man listening to advice
c. a queen giving a speech
When Teiresias accuses Oedipus in Oedipus the King, Part I, Oedipus immediately assumes, without evidence, that he and Creon are traitors. Given the details of the play up to this point, what is the most likely reason Oedipus is so quick to accuse the others?
a. Teiresias is an old blind man who has lost his ability to see the future.
b. Oedipus knows that he is guilty as charged and tries to cover up with bluster.
c. Creon is more popular in Thebes than Oedipus and would make a better king.
d. Oedipus cannot face the idea that he might have committed such a repulsive crime.
d. Oedipus cannot face the idea that he might have committed such a repulsive crime.
Which of the following lines from the ode best shows the mood of the chorus in the ode that follows the Oedipus-Teiresias episode of Oedipus the King, Part I?
a. Chorus. Who is this man of unspeakable darkness? / He must fly like the wind’s swift steeds. / For on his heels Apollo races / In the blinding light of his father’s fire.
b. Chorus. Find the killer. Find the man who roams / Like a bull in the forest’s shadow, / Raging in the haunting dark as his doom hovers, / Ready to strike.
c. Chorus. The man skilled in the beating of the wings of birds / Troubles me deeply. Is there truth in his art? / I am lost. I have no words. I can see neither / Past nor future.
d. Chorus. There was no quarrel ever that I knew / Between our royal house and Polybus, father of our king. / There is no proof.
c. Chorus. The man skilled in the beating of the wings of birds / Troubles me deeply. Is there truth in his art? / I am lost. I have no words. I can see neither / Past nor future.
In Oedipus the King, Part I, what causes the quarrel between Creon and Oedipus?
a. Creon believes that Oedipus is a bad husband to Jocasta.
b. Oedipus knows that Creon never went to see the oracle.
c. Oedipus believes Creon wants to seize his throne.
d. Creon recognizes Oedipus as the killer of Laius.
c. Oedipus believes Creon wants to seize his throne.
Which is the best definition of the Latin root -dict-?
a. to rule or lead
b. to say or speak
c. to argue or quarrel
d. to move or gesture
b. to say or speak
Which best characterizes Creon’s response when Oedipus accuses him of planning to usurp the throne in Oedipus the King, Part I?
a. Creon challenges Oedipus to an all-out fight for the crown.
b. Creon admits that he is guilty of plotting to take the throne.
c. Creon laughs at Oedipus’ accusation and refuses to discuss it.
d. Creon explains reasonably why Oedipus is wrong to accuse him.
d. Creon explains reasonably why Oedipus is wrong to accuse him.
Oedipus the King, Part I, ends in a long episode for Oedipus and Jocasta. What does their conversation in this episode most clearly reveal about their relationship?
a. They are both afraid of saying what they really think, revealing that they do not understand each other.
b. They offer each other comfort and exchange confidences, revealing that they love and trust each other.
c. They argue fiercely over Creon, revealing that their primary loyalties are to outsiders instead of each other.
d. They keep important secrets from one another, revealing that each suspects the other of possible betrayal.
b. They offer each other comfort and exchange confidences, revealing that they love and trust each other.
In Oedipus the King, Part I, Jocasta tells Oedipus what she knows about Laius’ murder. Which incident in her story does Oedipus recognize as an action he
carried out in his own past?
a. the beating of one servant who later left Thebes
b. the murder of the man he believed to be his father
c. the encounter with highwaymen when he was traveling
d. the murder of a group of men at a junction of three roads
d. the murder of a group of men at a junction of three roads
Given your knowledge of the Latin root -dict-, which human ability does the skill of diction most likely focus on?
a. seeing
b. hearing
c. thinking
d. speaking
d. speaking
Which of the following lines of dialogue best support that Creon's response to Oedipus' accusations is reasonable?
a. Creon. But if I were king I would have to do things which I did not want./ So why should I seek the crown . . . ?
b. Creon. In time you will know the truth . . . /. . . / A wicked man is discovered in the passing light of a single day.
c. Creon. No! Let me die amongst the damned if I ever wished you harm!
d. Creon. Over nothing? You are wrong, my sister. / Your husband will send me into exile or to my death.
a. Creon. But if I were king I would have to do things which I did not want./ So why should I seek the crown . . . ?
Oedipus the King, Part I includes a lengthy conversation among Oedipus, Creon, Jocasta, and the chorus leader, or choragos. Which best describes thechoragos’s part in this scene?
a. The choragos suggests that Oedipus should give up the throne.
b. The choragos expresses approval of Creon’s argument.
c. The choragos warns Jocasta that disaster will strike.
d. The choragos urges Oedipus to distrust Creon.
b. The choragos expresses approval of Creon’s argument.