Oedipus Rex UPDATED Actual Exam
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is significant about the fact that the first line of the play is a question? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔creates a dismal mood, the questioning also prepares us for a play of mystery
How does Oedipus choose the spokesman of the group of supplicants? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔He chooses the oldest person
What is your first impression of oedipus? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔He is arrogant
What problem is afflicting Thebes at the time? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A strange plague
is causing sickness and suffering crops, herds and unborn children are dying
What is the House of Cadmus? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Original name of the city of
Thebes (founded by Cadmus)
How does the Priest the supplicants view Oedipus? How does this begin to establish Oedipus
as an Aristotelian tragic hero? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Priest says they don't view
Oedipus as a God, but as the primary of men. This holds with Aristotle's view that a tragic
hero had to be a god, demi-god or hero
In case we didnt already know it, what exposition does the Priest provide in this scene? -
CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Priest reminds the audience that Oedipus is the hero who solved
the riddle of the sphinx and free the city of Theebes from its bondage
Why do the supplicants believe that Oedipus will be able to find a solution to the famine? -
CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Bc he had no human help when he solved the riddle of the sphinx
so he must of had divine help. They hope he consuts his divine aides and find the cause of the
famine
Why does Oedipus claim he suffers even more than supplicants? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔He says each supplicant suffers only for himself individually but he suffers for the
individual subject, his subjects generally and for himself
, What impression do we get from Oedipus based on his language? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔He is very proud and pomous
What action has Oedipus taken to find an answer to the city's problem? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔Sent Creon to the oracle at Delphi to find out what could be said or done to
save the city
What is oedipus and Creon's relationship? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Creon is Oedipus'
brother in law-the brother of Queen Jocasta
What is foreshadowed by Oedipus' promise to the Priest? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔Oedipus promises he will do whatever the oracle commands. This foreshadows he
probably will be commanded to do extremely unpleasant of even impossible task to end the
famine
Why does the Priest suspect Creon brings good news? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Bc he is
wearing a crown made from a Laurel, the tree of Apollo, and believes he would not do so if
he brought bad news
When Creon arrives from Delphi what does Oedipus insist that he do? What does this
indicate about his character? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Creon wants to speak in private
about the Oracle but Oedipus insists everyone should hear. It shows he loves his subjects but
also a thoughtless, impetuous streak
Why do you suppose creon wants to talk in oedipus in private? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔Creon knows that his sister Jocasta's son was destined to murder his father. The Father
(Lauis) has been murdered and he probably wants to protect his family
What does Creon report from the Oracle? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔The murderer of
Lauis has not been found. He is in Thebes and is the direct cause of the plague.The killer
must be exiled or murdered to end the plague
What is Oedipus' reaction to Creon's information? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔He asks
questions about Lauis' murder to find more info about it to help find the murderer and purge
the city
Questions and CORRECT Answers
What is significant about the fact that the first line of the play is a question? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔creates a dismal mood, the questioning also prepares us for a play of mystery
How does Oedipus choose the spokesman of the group of supplicants? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔He chooses the oldest person
What is your first impression of oedipus? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔He is arrogant
What problem is afflicting Thebes at the time? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔A strange plague
is causing sickness and suffering crops, herds and unborn children are dying
What is the House of Cadmus? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Original name of the city of
Thebes (founded by Cadmus)
How does the Priest the supplicants view Oedipus? How does this begin to establish Oedipus
as an Aristotelian tragic hero? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Priest says they don't view
Oedipus as a God, but as the primary of men. This holds with Aristotle's view that a tragic
hero had to be a god, demi-god or hero
In case we didnt already know it, what exposition does the Priest provide in this scene? -
CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Priest reminds the audience that Oedipus is the hero who solved
the riddle of the sphinx and free the city of Theebes from its bondage
Why do the supplicants believe that Oedipus will be able to find a solution to the famine? -
CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Bc he had no human help when he solved the riddle of the sphinx
so he must of had divine help. They hope he consuts his divine aides and find the cause of the
famine
Why does Oedipus claim he suffers even more than supplicants? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔He says each supplicant suffers only for himself individually but he suffers for the
individual subject, his subjects generally and for himself
, What impression do we get from Oedipus based on his language? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔He is very proud and pomous
What action has Oedipus taken to find an answer to the city's problem? - CORRECT
ANSWER- ✔✔Sent Creon to the oracle at Delphi to find out what could be said or done to
save the city
What is oedipus and Creon's relationship? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Creon is Oedipus'
brother in law-the brother of Queen Jocasta
What is foreshadowed by Oedipus' promise to the Priest? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔Oedipus promises he will do whatever the oracle commands. This foreshadows he
probably will be commanded to do extremely unpleasant of even impossible task to end the
famine
Why does the Priest suspect Creon brings good news? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Bc he is
wearing a crown made from a Laurel, the tree of Apollo, and believes he would not do so if
he brought bad news
When Creon arrives from Delphi what does Oedipus insist that he do? What does this
indicate about his character? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔Creon wants to speak in private
about the Oracle but Oedipus insists everyone should hear. It shows he loves his subjects but
also a thoughtless, impetuous streak
Why do you suppose creon wants to talk in oedipus in private? - CORRECT ANSWER-
✔✔Creon knows that his sister Jocasta's son was destined to murder his father. The Father
(Lauis) has been murdered and he probably wants to protect his family
What does Creon report from the Oracle? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔The murderer of
Lauis has not been found. He is in Thebes and is the direct cause of the plague.The killer
must be exiled or murdered to end the plague
What is Oedipus' reaction to Creon's information? - CORRECT ANSWER- ✔✔He asks
questions about Lauis' murder to find more info about it to help find the murderer and purge
the city
