Oedipus Rex, Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus 


1. What Greek playwright wrote Oedipus Rex, Antigone and Oedipus at Colonus? **Sophocles**


2. In what city is the action of Oedipus Rex set? **Thebes**  


3. What prophecy does Oedipus hear that he will kill his father and marry his mother? **He will kill his father and marry his mother.**


4. Who does Oedipus kill at a crossroads without realizing it is his father? **King Laius of Thebes**


5. Who does Oedipus marry after solving the riddle of the Sphinx and becoming king of Thebes, not realizing it is his mother? **Jocasta**  


6. When the truth is revealed about Oedipus inadvertently fulfilling the prophecy, what does Jocasta do? **She hangs herself.**


7. What does Oedipus do when the truth is revealed, prior to being exiled? **He gouges out his own eyes.**


8. Who is the prophet that reveals the truth to Oedipus about his past? **Tiresias**


9. What plague strikes Thebes at the beginning of Oedipus Rex? **A plague**


10. What is Oedipus' role and title at the beginning of the play? **King of Thebes**


11. In what relationship do the main characters Oedipus, Jocasta and Creon stand to one another at the start of the play? **Oedipus is married to Jocasta, his mother, and Creon is his uncle by marriage.**  


12. What genre of play is Oedipus Rex? **Tragedy**


13. What is one fun fact about Oedipus Rex? **It is considered one of the earliest known detective stories as Oedipus tries to solve the mystery of who killed Laius.**


14. Who is the protagonist of Sophocles' play Antigone? **Antigone**


15. Who are the two brothers who kill each other in battle in Antigone? **Eteocles and Polyneices** 


16. Who is the new ruler of Thebes at the beginning of Antigone? **Creon**


17. What edict does Creon make at the beginning of Antigone? **He will not allow Polyneices, the traitor, a proper burial.**


18. Who defies Creon's edict by trying to bury Polyneices? **Antigone**


19. What is Antigone's relationship to Polyneices and Eteocles? **She is their sister.**


20. What is one fun fact about Antigone? **It is considered one of the first debates on civil disobedience and freedom of conscience against the state.**


21. Who does Creon want his son Haemon to marry? **Antigone**


22. What happens to Antigone for disobeying Creon? **She is entombed alive within a cave.** 


23. Who else commits suicide over the events involving Antigone? **Haemon and Eurydice**


24. What genre is Antigone? **Tragedy**


25. What happened to Oedipus after the events of Oedipus Rex? **He was exiled from Thebes.**


26. In what city is the action of Oedipus at Colonus set? **Colonus, a town near Athens**


27. Who accompanies the exiled Oedipus in Oedipus at Colonus? **His daughters Antigone and Ismene**


28. Who comes to take Oedipus back to Thebes by force in Oedipus at Colonus? **Creon**


29. What supernatural events occur towards the end of Oedipus at Colonus? **Thunder and lightning are seen as Oedipus disappears into a mysterious grove.**


30. How does Oedipus die in Oedipus at Colonus? **He chooses a mysterious death to disappear in the grove, rather than returning to Thebes with Creon.**


31. What protects Oedipus and the land of Colonus according to an oracle? **A divine curse will protect the land where Oedipus is buried.** 


32. What genre is Oedipus at Colonus? **Tragedy** 


33. What punishment does Oedipus receive for killing his father and marrying his mother according to the events of Oedipus Rex? **Exile from Thebes**


34. Who was the tutor and uncle of Oedipus according to backstory in Oedipus Rex? **Polybus**


35. What does Oedipus threaten to do to himself if the killer of Laius is not found according to early events in Oedipus Rex? **He will banish himself from Thebes forever.**


36. According to events in Oedipus Rex, who had given Oedipus to Polybus and his wife Merope to raise as their own? **A shepherd, who had been given Oedipus as a baby by another shepherd.** 


37. Which character tries to reassure Oedipus that the killer of Laius could have fled into exile in Oedipus Rex? **Creon**


38. What does Creon report having decreed regarding Polyneices in Antigone? **That his body shall not be buried or mourned.**


39. How many sons did Jocasta have with Oedipus according to information revealed in Oedipus Rex? **Four, Eteocles, Polyneices, Antigone and Ismene.** 


40. Why is Antigone especially concerned to bury Polyneices according to the events of her tragedy? **Because as her brother, if unburied, his spirit could not properly join the Underworld.**


41. True or false: In the wake of discovering he fulfilled the prophecy in Oedipus Rex, Oedipus insists that Creon should rule Thebes rather than him. **True**


42. What do the people of Thebes fear earlier in Oedipus Rex according to Creon? **Divine wrath and ill fortune for the city.**


43. Which of Oedipus' sons does he curse to a life of conflict and misrule in Oedipus at Colonus? **Polyneices and Eteocles** 


44. What does Antigone say she will do instead of giving in to Creon's edict at the start of her tragedy? **"Then let me die/ With my own brother, dearest of all / The dead to me of all that now are dead."**


45. According to backstory provided in Antigone, which of Oedipus' sons ruled Thebes after him but then killed each other? **Eteocles and Polyneices**


46. Who announces the tragic plot twist of Oedipus unknowingly marrying his mother Jocasta in Oedipus Rex? **The messenger**


47. True or false: In Oedipus at Colonus, Theseus sides with Creon in wanting to take Oedipus back to Thebes against his will. **False, Theseus protects Oedipus.** 


48. Whose murder does the prophet Tiresias hint Oedipus committed unknowingly at the start of Oedipus Rex? **His father Laius**


49. In Antigone, what does Creon believe will happen if Antigone succeeds in her plan to bury Polyneices? **It will encourage others to disregard his leadership.**


50. In Oedipus Rex, what does the prophetess at Delphi tell Laius that will result if he has a child with his wife Jocasta? **The child will kill him.**


51. Which of Creon's family members passionately tries to change his mind about Antigone according to events in her tragedy? **His son Haemon** 


52. When does Creon finally realize the tragic severity of the situation with Antigone in her play? **After the suicides of Haemon and Eurydice**


53. What happens to Thebes early in Antigone according to reports given to Creon? **It appears under divine wrath since Polyneices was not buried.** 


54. Who does Oedipus say should rule in his place once he gives up his throne in Oedipus Rex? **His brother-in-law Creon**


55. Where will Polyneices' corpse be left to rot and be eaten by animals and birds according to Creon's edict in Antigone? **Left in the open fields outside the city.**


56. How many shepherds are involved in the backstory revealed about Oedipus' abandonment as a baby in Oedipus Rex? **Two** 


57. What does Teiresias the prophet describe happening to Oedipus' eyes according to a prophecy revealed in Oedipus Rex? **They will be torn out.** 


58. What leads Creon to finally question his decree about Polyneices in Antigone


59. What position does Jocasta hold as wife of Laius prior to marrying Oedipus according to backstory? **Queen of Thebes**


60. What reward does the ruler of Thebes promise to the one who can solve the riddle of the Sphinx in Oedipus Rex? **The throne and Jocasta as his wife.** 


61. Which gender does Antigone belong to? **Female** 


62. Where does Antigone defy Creon's orders and try to conduct the ceremonial burial for Polynices? **In a grove outside the city gates**


63. Who does Creon decide to imprison as an example after discovering Antigone's disobedience? **Antigone** 


64. Who brings news of Antigone's actions to Creon in the play? **His son Haemon**


65. What convinces Oedipus to remain in exile at Colonus according to the events there? **The divinely protected nature of the site**


66. What kind of curse does Oedipus threaten Thebes with if they do not bury him properly after his death? **Divine curses and ill fortune** 


67. What is Haemon's role and relation to Creon? **His son and recognized heir**


68. Which interaction between Antigone and Haemon foreshadows their tragic ending? **When Haemon tries to reason with his father on her behalf**


69. Which character do the choruses represent in each play? **The common citizens of Thebes** 


70. Who does Creon initially propose should marry Antigone to end her line according to a plan in the play? **His son Haemon**


71. What is the name of Antigone's sister who goes with her to unsuccessfully try reasoning with Creon? **Ismene**


72. When does Antigone reveal she told no one else of her plan to bury Polynices for fear of? **For fear of being denounced** 


73. What does Oedipus do to show his misery and repentance after learning of his unwitting crimes in Oedipus Rex? **Blinded himself**


74. Who does Antigone blame for leading Thebes to ruination through his refusal to properly bury Polynices? **Creon**


75. Which character does Creon consult with about legal and divine matters in both plays? **The chorus of elders**


Post a Comment

أحدث أقدم