OEDIPUS REX TEST QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
What is the priest doing at the beginning of the play? - Answers :The priest is asking the
gods for help against the plague.
Why does the priest undertake this action? - Answers :He prays to them because there
is a bad plague on the city.
Where has Oedipus sent Creon at the beginning of the play? - Answers :Oedipus sends
Creon to the Pythian Oracle.
What does Creon report? - Answers :Creon tells Oedipus that the man who killed Laius
needs to be found.
What should happen to the man they will find? - Answers :The man must be killed for
his actions.
Why didn't anyone investigate Laius' murder at the time? - Answers :Everyone was too
focused on the Sphinx attacking the city
What does Oedipus announce to the Theban people? - Answers :He tells them that if
anyone knows of who killed Laius, that he or she should turn in the man. He also says
that if anyone aids the killer that he will also be killed.
What does Oedipus ask Creon? - Answers :He wonders why Teiresias didn't speak up
when Laius died.
What reason does Creon give for not desiring the throne? - Answers :Creon says he
would have to rule alone and that would make him have to do things he doesn't want to
do.
What does Jocasta convince Oedipus to do to Creon? - Answers :Jocasta wants
Oedipus to forgive Creon
What does Jocasta attempt to prove to Oedipus? - Answers :Jocasta tries to prove that
prophecy is not the truth
What does she say she did with her baby? - Answers :She left it on a mountain
Where was Laius killed? - Answers :He was killed at a crossroads.
Why does Jocasta's story upset Oedipus? - Answers :The story upset Oedipus because
he killed a man at a crossroad.
What led Oedipus to go to the oracle when he was young? - Answers :Someone called
Oedipus a bastard, so he went to the oracle.
What is the priest doing at the beginning of the play? - Answers :The priest is asking the
gods for help against the plague.
Why does the priest undertake this action? - Answers :He prays to them because there
is a bad plague on the city.
Where has Oedipus sent Creon at the beginning of the play? - Answers :Oedipus sends
Creon to the Pythian Oracle.
What does Creon report? - Answers :Creon tells Oedipus that the man who killed Laius
needs to be found.
What should happen to the man they will find? - Answers :The man must be killed for
his actions.
Why didn't anyone investigate Laius' murder at the time? - Answers :Everyone was too
focused on the Sphinx attacking the city
What does Oedipus announce to the Theban people? - Answers :He tells them that if
anyone knows of who killed Laius, that he or she should turn in the man. He also says
that if anyone aids the killer that he will also be killed.
What does Oedipus ask Creon? - Answers :He wonders why Teiresias didn't speak up
when Laius died.
What reason does Creon give for not desiring the throne? - Answers :Creon says he
would have to rule alone and that would make him have to do things he doesn't want to
do.
What does Jocasta convince Oedipus to do to Creon? - Answers :Jocasta wants
Oedipus to forgive Creon
What does Jocasta attempt to prove to Oedipus? - Answers :Jocasta tries to prove that
prophecy is not the truth
What does she say she did with her baby? - Answers :She left it on a mountain
Where was Laius killed? - Answers :He was killed at a crossroads.
Why does Jocasta's story upset Oedipus? - Answers :The story upset Oedipus because
he killed a man at a crossroad.
What led Oedipus to go to the oracle when he was young? - Answers :Someone called
Oedipus a bastard, so he went to the oracle.
