OEDIPUS REX REVIEW QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
According to Aristotle's Poetics, a good tragedy must have the critical moment of recognition or
discovery called ____________________. ANSW✅✅Anagnorisis
In a Greek play, deaths ANSW✅✅are always off stage.
In classical Greek theater all actors were ANSW✅✅male
As a symbol, Oedipus's name suggests ANSW✅✅his limited freedom
King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth found Oedipus in the wilderness. (T/F) ANSW✅✅False
According to Aristotle, in the end, the audience experiences a __________________, feeling purged
or drained of its emotions, and better able to understand life. ANSW✅✅Catharsis
Label Parts of Greek theater ANSW✅✅use the review i cannot insert a picture sorry yall
Oedipus enters from the palace. His mask shows a care-worn man, no longer young. As he comes to
speak to the people on the steps, you notice he has a stick and is limping slightly. Why?
ANSW✅✅It's due to an injury he received as a baby
Oedipus is faced with a depressed-looking delegation of priests. They have put themselves in
Oedipus's hands. Their gods cannot help them. He knows why they've come: a terrible plague is
devastating Thebes. Why do they believe that Oedipus can help? ANSW✅✅Because of his heroic
record of accomplishments
In the beginning of the play, what does Oedipus tell the priests he's already done to solve this new
problem of the plague? ANSW✅✅Sent his brother-in-law to Delphi
Thespis is considered to be the first actor (T/F) ANSW✅✅true
, According to Aristotle, _______________________ is the highest form of drama.
ANSW✅✅tragedy
According to Aristotle, hamartia most closely means ANSW✅✅failure, fault, error, mistake
In Poetics, Aristotle claims that a complex plot must include ___________________, a reversal of
fortune, which occurs when a situation seems to be developing in one direction, then suddenly
"reverses" to another. The messenger from Corinth produces an unintended effect. Oedipus first
hears of the death of Polybus, the news at first seems good, but then is revealed to be disastrous.
ANSW✅✅Peripeteia
Aristotle called the sympathy felt by the audience for undeserved suffering
__________________________. ANSW✅✅pity
After learning the truth, why doesn't Oedipus follow Jocasta to comfort her in her grief?
ANSW✅✅He is concerned only with learning the circumstances of his birth.
When the audience knows more about what is to happen than the characters on stage, this creates a
situation known as ANSW✅✅dramatic irony
Which of the following is not one of the unities of Greek theater? ANSW✅✅unity of theme
Sophocles' plays were performed as part of a celebration honoring ANSW✅✅Dionysus
Creon says that the god's orders are to drive out the corruption from Thebes. He himself supplies the
information about an uninvestigated crime - the murder of Laius, Oedipus's predecessor. What will
make detection difficult? ANSW✅✅The one witness has fled.
Oedipus fled Corinth to avoid a prophecy. (T/F) ANSW✅✅True
Jocasta and Laius ordered the shepherd to kill their son to save Laius. (T/F) ANSW✅✅True
Why wasn't the ruler's murder fully investigated at the time? ANSW✅✅They were distracted by
another event
AND ANSWERS
According to Aristotle's Poetics, a good tragedy must have the critical moment of recognition or
discovery called ____________________. ANSW✅✅Anagnorisis
In a Greek play, deaths ANSW✅✅are always off stage.
In classical Greek theater all actors were ANSW✅✅male
As a symbol, Oedipus's name suggests ANSW✅✅his limited freedom
King Polybus and Queen Merope of Corinth found Oedipus in the wilderness. (T/F) ANSW✅✅False
According to Aristotle, in the end, the audience experiences a __________________, feeling purged
or drained of its emotions, and better able to understand life. ANSW✅✅Catharsis
Label Parts of Greek theater ANSW✅✅use the review i cannot insert a picture sorry yall
Oedipus enters from the palace. His mask shows a care-worn man, no longer young. As he comes to
speak to the people on the steps, you notice he has a stick and is limping slightly. Why?
ANSW✅✅It's due to an injury he received as a baby
Oedipus is faced with a depressed-looking delegation of priests. They have put themselves in
Oedipus's hands. Their gods cannot help them. He knows why they've come: a terrible plague is
devastating Thebes. Why do they believe that Oedipus can help? ANSW✅✅Because of his heroic
record of accomplishments
In the beginning of the play, what does Oedipus tell the priests he's already done to solve this new
problem of the plague? ANSW✅✅Sent his brother-in-law to Delphi
Thespis is considered to be the first actor (T/F) ANSW✅✅true
, According to Aristotle, _______________________ is the highest form of drama.
ANSW✅✅tragedy
According to Aristotle, hamartia most closely means ANSW✅✅failure, fault, error, mistake
In Poetics, Aristotle claims that a complex plot must include ___________________, a reversal of
fortune, which occurs when a situation seems to be developing in one direction, then suddenly
"reverses" to another. The messenger from Corinth produces an unintended effect. Oedipus first
hears of the death of Polybus, the news at first seems good, but then is revealed to be disastrous.
ANSW✅✅Peripeteia
Aristotle called the sympathy felt by the audience for undeserved suffering
__________________________. ANSW✅✅pity
After learning the truth, why doesn't Oedipus follow Jocasta to comfort her in her grief?
ANSW✅✅He is concerned only with learning the circumstances of his birth.
When the audience knows more about what is to happen than the characters on stage, this creates a
situation known as ANSW✅✅dramatic irony
Which of the following is not one of the unities of Greek theater? ANSW✅✅unity of theme
Sophocles' plays were performed as part of a celebration honoring ANSW✅✅Dionysus
Creon says that the god's orders are to drive out the corruption from Thebes. He himself supplies the
information about an uninvestigated crime - the murder of Laius, Oedipus's predecessor. What will
make detection difficult? ANSW✅✅The one witness has fled.
Oedipus fled Corinth to avoid a prophecy. (T/F) ANSW✅✅True
Jocasta and Laius ordered the shepherd to kill their son to save Laius. (T/F) ANSW✅✅True
Why wasn't the ruler's murder fully investigated at the time? ANSW✅✅They were distracted by
another event
