Oedipus Rex Flashcards
What city is plagued by a mysterious
curse in “Oedipus Rex”?
A) Athens
B) Thebes
C) Corinth
D) Sparta
A) Athens
Who is the king of Thebes at the
beginning of the play?
A) Oedipus
B) Laius
C) Creon
D) Polybus
A) Oedipus
Personal note:
Isn’t it Laius?
Which Greek god is Oedipus said to
have angered, leading to the curse on
Thebes?
A) Apollo
B) Zeus
C) Hermes
D) Athena
A) Apollo
What does the oracle at Delphi tell
Oedipus about his fate?
A) He will become king of Thebes.
B) He will marry his mother and kill
his father.
C) He will go blind and wander the
earth.
D) He will have many children and be
revered.
B) He will marry his mother and kill his father.
Who is Jocasta in relation to
Oedipus?
A) His mother
B) His wife
C) His sister
D) His daughter
B) His wife
Personal note:
She is his mother, who later becomes his wife
What is Oedipus’ reaction when
Tiresias accuses him of being the
source of the plague?
A) He becomes enraged and accuses
Tiresias of treachery.
B) He laughs it off, thinking it’s a joke.
C) He becomes introspective and
questions himself.
D) He immediately believes Tiresias
and confesses.
A) He becomes enraged and accuses Tiresias of treachery.
Who is revealed to be the true
father of Oedipus?
A) Laius
B) Creon
C) Polybus
D) Tiresias
C) Polybus
What is the name of Oedipus’
biological father?
A) Laius
B) Polybus
C) Creon
D) Jocasta
A) Laius
What does Oedipus use to blind
himself?
A) A knife
B) A sword
C) A brooch pin
D) His hands
C) A brooch pin
What is the relationship between
Oedipus and Antigone?
A) Father and daughter
B) Brother and sister
C) Husband and wife
D) Uncle and niece
A) Father and daughter
Who brings news of Polybus’ death
to Oedipus?
A) Messenger from Corinth
B) Messenger from Thebes
C) Messenger from Delphi
D) Messenger from Athens
A) Messenger from Corinth
Who kills herself at the end of the
play?
A) Jocasta
B) Antigone
C) Ismene
D) Eurydice
D) Eurydice
Who is Oedipus’ first victim when
he blinds himself?
A) Himself
B) Jocasta
C) Creon
D) Tiresias
B) Jocasta
What is the name of Oedipus’ sons?
A) Polyneices and Eteocles
B) Polynices and Antigone
C) Eteocles and Antigone
D) Polyneices and Ismene
A) Polyneices and Eteocles
Who becomes the king of Thebes
after Oedipus blinds himself?
A) Creon
B) Polyneices
C) Eteocles
D) Antigone
A) Creon
What does Oedipus do when he
discovers the truth about his
parentage?
A) He curses the gods and refuses to
accept his fate.
B) He rejoices, believing he is finally
free from the curse.
C) He blinds himself as punishment
for his actions.
D) He flees Thebes in shame.
C) He blinds himself as punishment for his actions.
Who is the author of “Oedipus Rex”?
A) Homer
B) Aeschylus
C) Euripides
D) Sophocles
D) Sophocles
What is the main theme of
“Oedipus Rex”?
A) The power of fate
B) The importance of family
C) The consequences of pride
D) The nature of justice
A) The power of fate
How does Oedipus become king of
Thebes?
A) By overthrowing the previous
king in battle
B) By solving the riddle of the
Sphinx
C) By marrying the queen, Jocasta
D) By being appointed by the gods
B) By solving the riddle of the Sphinx
What is the name of Oedipus’
biological mother?
A) Jocasta
B) Antigone
C) Ismene
D) Merope
D) Merope
Personal note:
Jocasta is the biological mother.
Merope is the adoptive mother.
What is the relationship between
Oedipus and Creon?
A) Father and son
B) Brothers
C) Cousins
D) Rivals
B) Brothers
How does Jocasta die?
A) She kills herself.
B) She is killed by Oedipus.
C) She dies of illness.
D) She is killed by Creon.
A) She kills herself
Who reveals the truth about
Oedipus’ parentage to him?
A) Tiresias
B) Creon
C) The Corinthian messenger
D) The shepherd
C) The Corinthian messenger
What is the punishment Oedipus
inflicts upon himself for his crimes?
A) Banishment from Thebes
B) Exile from Greece
C) Blinding himself
D) Imprisonment
C) Blinding himself
Which character serves as the
Chorus in “Oedipus Rex”?
A) Theban elders
B) Oedipus’ children
C) Priests of Apollo
D) Messenger from Corinth
A) Theban elders
