OEDIPUS THE KING TEST QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Episode; lines 200-443 (summary) ANSW✅✅He saves them from the plague. Oedipus asks for
knowledge and figures out his fate. Teiresias is blind but can see into the future. Teiresias knows
Oedipus is the murderer.
2nd episode; starts on line 479 (summary) ANSW✅✅Creon and oedipus argue. Oedipus hears
something that jogs his memory: the road where 3 roads meet and his prophecy.
Ode; lines 444-487 (summary) ANSW✅✅Chorus says the gods are hunting. He (Oedipus) cant
hide, the gods will find him eventually. The city doesn't believe Oedipus is the murderer because
they don't have proof and he saved them from the Sphinx. Oedipus believes that Creon is the
murderer. Creon defend himself and addresses the issue.
Lines 444-448: meanings of "The oracle at Delphi has spoken"; "Apollo races, Wind's swift steeds"
ANSW✅✅asking who the guy who killed Lauis is; he needs to run away really fast bc Apollo is
chasing him
STROPHE: lines 445-460 " Like a bull in the forest's shadow, Raging in the haunting dark as his doom
hovers, Ready to strike." ANSW✅✅Means he's hiding in the shadows of the forest, the killer will
be punished/caught, can't hide from the gods.
Why did no one question Oedipus? Why don't they believe Tiresias? ANSW✅✅there is no quarrel
between the two kings so why would oedipus be the killer, again with no proof. they doubt Teiresias
because he's just a man
Why doesn't Jocasta believe the prophecy is being carried out? ANSW✅✅Because she believes
they defeated fate when their son(oedipus) was killed(or so they thought)
Why did Oedipus flee his foster Kingdom? ANSW✅✅Because he thought that King Polybus and
Queen Merope were his parents and he didn't want to hurt them
As the play opens, what disaster has befallen Thebes? ANSW✅✅A plague killing people, animals,
and crops
, proclamation ANSW✅✅official announcement
decree ANSW✅✅decision made by an authority
edicts ANSW✅✅commands from a public authority
herald ANSW✅✅someone who bears news
embodiment ANSW✅✅a tangible or visible form of an idea
discretion ANSW✅✅speaking or behaving in a way such as to avoid causing offense
configuration ANSW✅✅an arrangement of elements in a particular form, figure, or combination
dirge ANSW✅✅a lament for the dead
petulant ANSW✅✅childishly sulky or bad-tempered
withering ANSW✅✅cease to flourish, fall into decline
Prologue; lines 1-143 (summary) ANSW✅✅Addresses plague. Chorus pleads with Apollo, praying
and asking for help to bring peace back to Thebes. Oedipus swears to his kingdom to find and exile
or kill the murderer of Lauis(king)
Parados; lines 144-199 (summary) ANSW✅✅They ask for help with the plague. Oedipus is
introduced into the story. People pray and ask the gods for help finding the murderer of Lauis. hope
for health and peace in Thebes. Signs of plague progressing
How did Oedipus become King of Thebes? ANSW✅✅He answered the riddle of the Sphinx
AND ANSWERS
Episode; lines 200-443 (summary) ANSW✅✅He saves them from the plague. Oedipus asks for
knowledge and figures out his fate. Teiresias is blind but can see into the future. Teiresias knows
Oedipus is the murderer.
2nd episode; starts on line 479 (summary) ANSW✅✅Creon and oedipus argue. Oedipus hears
something that jogs his memory: the road where 3 roads meet and his prophecy.
Ode; lines 444-487 (summary) ANSW✅✅Chorus says the gods are hunting. He (Oedipus) cant
hide, the gods will find him eventually. The city doesn't believe Oedipus is the murderer because
they don't have proof and he saved them from the Sphinx. Oedipus believes that Creon is the
murderer. Creon defend himself and addresses the issue.
Lines 444-448: meanings of "The oracle at Delphi has spoken"; "Apollo races, Wind's swift steeds"
ANSW✅✅asking who the guy who killed Lauis is; he needs to run away really fast bc Apollo is
chasing him
STROPHE: lines 445-460 " Like a bull in the forest's shadow, Raging in the haunting dark as his doom
hovers, Ready to strike." ANSW✅✅Means he's hiding in the shadows of the forest, the killer will
be punished/caught, can't hide from the gods.
Why did no one question Oedipus? Why don't they believe Tiresias? ANSW✅✅there is no quarrel
between the two kings so why would oedipus be the killer, again with no proof. they doubt Teiresias
because he's just a man
Why doesn't Jocasta believe the prophecy is being carried out? ANSW✅✅Because she believes
they defeated fate when their son(oedipus) was killed(or so they thought)
Why did Oedipus flee his foster Kingdom? ANSW✅✅Because he thought that King Polybus and
Queen Merope were his parents and he didn't want to hurt them
As the play opens, what disaster has befallen Thebes? ANSW✅✅A plague killing people, animals,
and crops
, proclamation ANSW✅✅official announcement
decree ANSW✅✅decision made by an authority
edicts ANSW✅✅commands from a public authority
herald ANSW✅✅someone who bears news
embodiment ANSW✅✅a tangible or visible form of an idea
discretion ANSW✅✅speaking or behaving in a way such as to avoid causing offense
configuration ANSW✅✅an arrangement of elements in a particular form, figure, or combination
dirge ANSW✅✅a lament for the dead
petulant ANSW✅✅childishly sulky or bad-tempered
withering ANSW✅✅cease to flourish, fall into decline
Prologue; lines 1-143 (summary) ANSW✅✅Addresses plague. Chorus pleads with Apollo, praying
and asking for help to bring peace back to Thebes. Oedipus swears to his kingdom to find and exile
or kill the murderer of Lauis(king)
Parados; lines 144-199 (summary) ANSW✅✅They ask for help with the plague. Oedipus is
introduced into the story. People pray and ask the gods for help finding the murderer of Lauis. hope
for health and peace in Thebes. Signs of plague progressing
How did Oedipus become King of Thebes? ANSW✅✅He answered the riddle of the Sphinx
