Oedipus the King Quiz

Who wrote Oedipus the King?

Sophocles

In which Greek city did Oedipus live in with his adopted parents?

Corinth

What are the names of Oedipus' adopted parents?

Polybius and Merope

What does the name Oedipus mean?

Swollen Foot

Where is the place where Oedipus kills his father?

Place where the 3 roads meet

What are the names of Oedipus' two daughters?

Antigone and Ismene

What are the names of Oedipus' real parents?

Laius and Jocasta

Where is the play set (place and city)

Royal House in Thebes

What was the answer to the riddle of the Sphinx?

Man

Who is the God of Healing?

Apollo

What problem was Thebes facing when the play begun?

Plague

Who is the God of Greek cities?

Athena

When Oedipus was a baby where was he left to die?

Mount Citheron

Why did Oedipus leave his city and his adopted parents?

Because of an oracle that he would kill his father and marry his mother

Who says this: "Destiny guide me always"

Chorus

What is the name of the blind old prophet?

Tiresias

What does the prophet accuse Oedipus of?

Murdering Laius

When was this play written?

5th century B.C.

Who said: "Nothing can penetrate the future"?

Jocasta

Who is the third in line to the throne in Thebes?

Creon

Who did Jocasta say killed Laius?

Thieves

Towards the end of the play who is the key witness that they are searching for?

The shepherd

How does Jocasta kill herself?

She hangs herself

Describe exactly what the Sphinx is?

Riddle loving monster with the body of a lioness, the head of a woman and wings

Who said: "Time is a great healer, you will see"?

Creon

Why does Oedipus choose not to commit suicide but to live on?

He wants to suffer the truth and he couldn't face his parents in death

What did the Sphinx do to anyone who couldn't solve the riddle?

Ate them

What does Oedipus threaten to do to the Shepherd if he doesn't tell the truth?

Kill him

Who does Oedipus call down curse on? (3 different people)

The murderer, those who disobey his orders, himself if he proves to be an inmate of Oedipus' house

What is the last line in the play?

Count no man happy until he dies, free of pain at last

Oedipus says: "So I will fight for him as if he were my father." Who is he talking about?

Laius

Who delivers Apollo's oracle about the plague?

Creon

Who tells Oedipus that he is not Polybius' son, which forces him to leave his father?

A drunken man at a banquet

How did Oedipus become the King of Thebes?

He solved the riddle of the Sphinx

How many children did Oedipus have?

4

Where is the oracle that they consult throughout the play?

Delphi