OEDIPUS REX TEST REVIEW
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Jocasta ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' wife and mother
-Frequently critical of the gods and prophecies
-kills herself when she realizes who Oedipus is
Creon ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' brother-in-law and uncle
-reasonable man with the city of Thebes on his mind
-accused of treason by Oedipus
-Doesn't want to be king
-takes over Thebes after Oedipus is banished
-raises Oedipus' children
Laius ANSW✅✅-former king, murdered by Oedipus (reason for plague)
-father of Oedipus
-murdered at the crossroads, meeting of the three roads
Polybus ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' adopted father; raised Oedipus in Corinth
-dies of old age, Oedipus not too sad about it
Merope ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' adopted mother; raised Oedipus in Corinth
Shepherd ANSW✅✅-witness to the murder of Laios, ran away when he saw Oedipus was king
-found baby Oedipus on Mount Kithairon
-gave baby to Messenger
-tells Oedipus this info at end of play
Messenger ANSW✅✅-tells Oedipus that his "parents" in Corinth are not his real parents
-tells Oedipus and Jocasta that he got baby Oedipus from the shepherd
, Chorus ANSW✅✅-represent the people of Thebes AND serve as a resource for the audience of
the play
-sings/comments on the action of the play
-uses figurative language
-essentially summarizes each scene for the audience
Who travels to Delphi to learn how to save Thebes? ANSW✅✅Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi
before the play begins to figure out how to save Thebes.
What is the result of the visit to Delphi? What news does the character bring back to Oedipus about
ways to save the city? ANSW✅✅Creon states that they must find the murderer of King Laios to lift
the plague.
Briefly summarize the promise that Oedipus made to the people of Thebes regarding the murderer
of Laius? ANSW✅✅Not only will he fix the plague and find the murderer, but Oedipus promises
that he will curse himself and his own family if they should be the murderer.
How is this promise ironic? ANSW✅✅Oedipus is the murderer he is looking for.
Why does Tieresias originally refuse to tell Oedipus who is responsible for the murder of Laius?
ANSW✅✅Tiresias knows the horrifying truth and would rather spare Oedipus the shame.
How does Oedipus offend Tieresias and the gods? ANSW✅✅Oedipus insults Tiresias, specifically
his ability to tell the future through bird-watching. Oedipus insults the gods by disrespecting their
prophetic powers.
Briefly summarize the prophecy Tieresias delivered to Oedipus. ANSW✅✅The murderer of King
Laios is in Thebes. He has slept with his mother and killed his father.
Why does Oedipus believe that Tieresias and Creon were guilty of treason? ANSW✅✅Oedipus is
completely paranoid at this point, and his pride prevents him from seeing reason.
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Jocasta ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' wife and mother
-Frequently critical of the gods and prophecies
-kills herself when she realizes who Oedipus is
Creon ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' brother-in-law and uncle
-reasonable man with the city of Thebes on his mind
-accused of treason by Oedipus
-Doesn't want to be king
-takes over Thebes after Oedipus is banished
-raises Oedipus' children
Laius ANSW✅✅-former king, murdered by Oedipus (reason for plague)
-father of Oedipus
-murdered at the crossroads, meeting of the three roads
Polybus ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' adopted father; raised Oedipus in Corinth
-dies of old age, Oedipus not too sad about it
Merope ANSW✅✅-Oedipus' adopted mother; raised Oedipus in Corinth
Shepherd ANSW✅✅-witness to the murder of Laios, ran away when he saw Oedipus was king
-found baby Oedipus on Mount Kithairon
-gave baby to Messenger
-tells Oedipus this info at end of play
Messenger ANSW✅✅-tells Oedipus that his "parents" in Corinth are not his real parents
-tells Oedipus and Jocasta that he got baby Oedipus from the shepherd
, Chorus ANSW✅✅-represent the people of Thebes AND serve as a resource for the audience of
the play
-sings/comments on the action of the play
-uses figurative language
-essentially summarizes each scene for the audience
Who travels to Delphi to learn how to save Thebes? ANSW✅✅Oedipus sends Creon to Delphi
before the play begins to figure out how to save Thebes.
What is the result of the visit to Delphi? What news does the character bring back to Oedipus about
ways to save the city? ANSW✅✅Creon states that they must find the murderer of King Laios to lift
the plague.
Briefly summarize the promise that Oedipus made to the people of Thebes regarding the murderer
of Laius? ANSW✅✅Not only will he fix the plague and find the murderer, but Oedipus promises
that he will curse himself and his own family if they should be the murderer.
How is this promise ironic? ANSW✅✅Oedipus is the murderer he is looking for.
Why does Tieresias originally refuse to tell Oedipus who is responsible for the murder of Laius?
ANSW✅✅Tiresias knows the horrifying truth and would rather spare Oedipus the shame.
How does Oedipus offend Tieresias and the gods? ANSW✅✅Oedipus insults Tiresias, specifically
his ability to tell the future through bird-watching. Oedipus insults the gods by disrespecting their
prophetic powers.
Briefly summarize the prophecy Tieresias delivered to Oedipus. ANSW✅✅The murderer of King
Laios is in Thebes. He has slept with his mother and killed his father.
Why does Oedipus believe that Tieresias and Creon were guilty of treason? ANSW✅✅Oedipus is
completely paranoid at this point, and his pride prevents him from seeing reason.
