Deck 22: Greece: Oedipus the King, Sophocles

Question 1

In drama, we call it _________________ when a character says something, but the audience knows the opposite is true.

A) treachery
B) mystery
C) irony
D) metonymy

Answer 1

C

Question 2

In the ancient Greek theater, a major role of the chorus was to ___________________________________.

A) sing odes
B) distract the audience at intensely tragic moments
C) act as contrast to the main character in the play
D) reflect on the action that had taken place in the previous episode

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Greek audiences believed that the action of the play should take place within ___________________________.

A) one day
B) one week
C) one year
D) the lifetime of the main character

Answer 3

A

Question 4

The play opens with the Thebans asking for help from the gods because ___________________________.

A) Oedipus has killed his father
B) it is an annual ritual
C) they are not satisfied with their king, Oedipus
D) the city is suffering from plague and famine

Question 5

Oedipus' fate was prophesied by _________________________________________.

A) his father, Laius
B) the oracle of Apollo at Delphi
C) the priest Teiresias
D) Oedipus himself

Question 6

"Let him be nothing. Give him nothing. Let him touch nothing of yours.…" This judgment against the murderer of Laius is proclaimed by _____________.

A) Kreon
B) Teiresias
C) Jocasta
D) Oedipus

Question 7

To escape the oracle that his son will kill him, Laius and Jocasta _____________.

A) gave the baby to a couple in Corinth
B) had the baby exposed on Mt. Cithairon, so it might die
C) married someone else
D) prayed to Apollo

Question 8

As the action of the play progresses, Oedipus thinks Kreon is a ______________.

A) traitor
B) prophet
C) wise but misled friend
D) messenger from Apollo

Question 9

Oedipus learns he is not the son of Polybos of Corinth from ______________.

A) Jocasta
B) Teiresias
C) the messenger
D) the oracle of Apollo

Question 10

When Oedipus sees that Jocasta has hanged herself, he ________________.

A) runs for help
B) accuses Teiresias of causing her death with his upsetting prophecies
C) blames Kreon
D) blinds himself using the pins to her brooches

Question 11

The oracle that Oedipus would murder his father and marry his mother was originally told to ____________________.

A) Laius
B) Jocasta
C) Oedipus
D) Teiresias

Question 12

Oedipus' lament, "Wedding feasts, you gave birth to me…you again brought forth children of the same seed, producing fathers, brothers, children-all of kindred blood…the most shameful disgrace…" indicates the Greeks' taboo against __________________.

Question 13

__________________ is the Greek philosopher who wrote: "Tragedy is an imitation not of human beings but of action and life, of happiness and misery."

Question 14

The _______________ was a creature with the head of a human, the body of a bird, and the hindquarters of a lion.

Question 15

_________________ is Jocasta's brother.

Question 16

__________________ is the Greek god of war.

Question 17

The ________________ are the Greek goddesses who spin the thread of human life, measure it out, and cut it off-causing death.

Question 18

When Jocasta realizes that her husband Oedipus is also her son, she ________________________________.

Question 19

The ________________, a slave of Laius, is brought back to the palace, but tells what he knows most unwillingly.

Question 20

Oedipus' daughters are Ismene and __________________________.

Question 21

In the end, Oedipus asks _____________ to care for his daughters.