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Quizzes > Literature & Language > Arts & Classics

Can You Ace the Oedipus the King Quiz?

Think you know Oedipus Rex? Take the quiz and find out!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Oedipus the King quiz on golden yellow background

Engage with Greek tragedy in the oedipus the king quiz! Perfect for Sophocles fans, literature students, and trivia buffs, this free challenge lets you unravel prophecies, dramatic irony, and the fate of Oedipus Rex. Test your expertise with a quiz on oedipus rex covering key scenes, characters, and themes of pride and destiny. Impress classmates or settle a bet at your next book club with intriguing oedipus the king trivia. Craving more puzzles? Take the Oedipus Rex quiz or crack riddles in the Oedipus and the Sphinx quiz . Ready to prove you're the ultimate classic lit whiz? Click "Start"!

Who wrote Oedipus the King?
Euripides
Aristophanes
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Sophocles authored Oedipus the King around 429 BC, establishing himself as a master tragedian in ancient Greece. His works are renowned for their complex characters and moral depth. Britannica
Which city is Oedipus king of in the play?
Thebes
Argos
Athens
Corinth
Oedipus becomes king of Thebes after solving the Sphinx's riddle and is revered for ending the creature's terror. The entire tragedy unfolds in Thebes under a devastating plague. SparkNotes
Who kills the former King Laius?
Jocasta
Tiresias
Creon
Oedipus
Unaware of his victim's identity, Oedipus slays Laius at a crossroads, unknowingly fulfilling the prophecy uttered before his birth. This act sets the tragedy in motion. Wikipedia
What mythical creature is terrorizing Thebes when the play begins?
The Chimera
The Minotaur
The Hydra
The Sphinx
The Sphinx poses her famous riddle and kills those who fail to answer, afflicting Thebes with fear until Oedipus solves it. Her defeat marks his rise to power. Britannica
Who is both Oedipus's wife and mother?
Eurydice
Ismene
Jocasta
Antigone
Oedipus unwittingly marries Jocasta, fulfilling the prophecy that he would marry his mother. This incestuous union intensifies the tragedy's horror. SparkNotes
Which character is the blind prophet in the play?
The Pythia
Theseus
Tiresias
Creon
Tiresias is the seer who, though physically blind, perceives the truth of Oedipus's origins and shares it reluctantly. His insight contrasts with Oedipus's ignorance. Britannica
What plague is afflicting the city of Thebes at the start of the play?
A severe drought
A deadly plague
An earthquake
An invading army
A lethal plague has struck Thebes, devastating its people and prompting Oedipus to seek divine guidance. This calamity symbolizes the moral corruption it conceals. SparkNotes
In which city was Oedipus raised?
Corinth
Athens
Delphi
Thebes
Oedipus was adopted by King Polybus of Corinth and raised there unaware of his true birth. He leaves Corinth to avoid fulfilling the prophecy. Wikipedia
Where did Oedipus commit the murder of King Laius?
On the summit of Mount Cithaeron
In the marketplace
At a crossroads
In the palace gates
The fatal encounter between Oedipus and Laius occurs at a crossroads, a symbolic location representing fate and choice. This incident triggers the prophecy's fulfillment. SparkNotes
Who ultimately reveals Oedipus's true parentage?
The blind prophet
King Creon
A messenger from Corinth
The Chorus leader
A messenger discloses that Oedipus was adopted in Corinth, unraveling the truth about his birth parents and sealing his tragic fate. Britannica
How does Jocasta react when she learns the truth about Oedipus?
She curses the gods
She renounces the throne
She kills herself
She goes into exile
Realizing she has married her own son, Jocasta is overwhelmed by horror and takes her own life, illustrating the devastating impact of fate. SparkNotes
What drastic action does Oedipus take after discovering the truth?
He kills Jocasta
He banishes Teiresias
He commits suicide
He blinds himself
Oedipus uses Jocasta's brooches to blind himself, symbolizing his transition from ignorance to painful insight. His act reflects the play's exploration of sight and knowledge. Wikipedia
Whom does Oedipus appoint as his successor?
Polyneices
Tiresias
Eteocles
Creon
Before his exile, Oedipus names Creon, his brother-in-law, as the new king of Thebes, setting the stage for the next generation's tragic conflicts. Britannica
Which of these is the central theme of Oedipus the King?
Heroic adventure
Romantic love
Political satire
Fate versus free will
The struggle between destiny prescribed by the gods and the characters' attempts to exercise free will drives the narrative and tragic outcomes. SparkNotes
What is Oedipus's tragic flaw (hamartia)?
Envy
Greed
Hubris (excessive pride)
Cowardice
Oedipus's pride leads him to defy warnings and challenge divine authority, ultimately ensuring the prophecy's fulfillment. His hubris is central to his downfall. Britannica
What literary device is used when the audience knows Oedipus is the killer before he does?
Symbolism
Metaphor
Dramatic irony
Foreshadowing
Dramatic irony arises because viewers are aware of Oedipus's true identity long before he uncovers it himself, heightening the tragic tension. Britannica
What role does the Chorus play in Oedipus the King?
Fights onstage in battle scenes
Delivers the oracle's message
Gives comic relief
Provides moral and social commentary
The Chorus offers reflections on the actions, expresses communal fears, and guides audience interpretation, unifying private and public concerns. SparkNotes
What term describes Oedipus's sudden reversal of fortune?
Anagnorisis
Peripeteia
Epiphany
Catastrophe
Peripeteia is a pivotal reversal of circumstances in a tragedy, exemplified when Oedipus's celebrated reign collapses into disgrace. Aristotle highlighted its importance. Britannica
What is the term for Oedipus's moment of critical discovery about his identity?
Catharsis
Anagnorisis
Peripeteia
Hamartia
Anagnorisis denotes the protagonist's recognition of a truth previously unknown, occurring when Oedipus realizes he has fulfilled the prophecy. Britannica
Which term best describes the emotional release experienced by the audience?
Mimesis
Catharsis
Deus ex machina
Choregos
Catharsis refers to the purification of emotions, especially pity and fear, that audience members feel by witnessing the tragic events. Britannica
How many actors traditionally appeared on stage in Sophocles's plays, including Oedipus the King?
Five
Four
Three
Two
Sophocles introduced a third actor to Greek tragedy, enabling more dynamic character interactions and complex plot developments. Britannica
At which festival was Oedipus the King first performed?
City Dionysia
Lenaea
Dionysia of the Villages
Panathenaea
Oedipus the King premiered at the Great or City Dionysia in Athens, a major festival dedicated to the god Dionysus where playwrights competed. Britannica
What does the name "Oedipus" literally mean in Greek?
"Swollen foot"
"Child of fate"
"King of Thebes"
"Blind seer"
Oedipus's name derives from the Greek words 'oidos' (swelling) and 'pous' (foot), referring to the infant's pierced ankles. It foreshadows his tragic journey. Wikipedia
The Sphinx's riddle in Oedipus serves as a metaphor for what?
The power of prophecy
Divine punishment
Stages of human life
Political corruption
The riddle's answer - man's progression from crawling infant to bipedal adult to cane-dependent elder - mirrors the arc of human existence. It underscores life's inevitability. SparkNotes
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Major Plot Twists -

    Examine the sequence of events in Oedipus the King to pinpoint crucial turning points and understand how they shape the tragedy's outcome.

  2. Identify Character Motivations -

    Explore the desires and fears driving Oedipus, Jocasta, and other figures to appreciate their roles in the narrative and the consequences of their actions.

  3. Evaluate Central Themes -

    Assess the play's exploration of fate, free will, and family to understand Sophocles' commentary on human nature and destiny.

  4. Recall Key Dialogue and Events -

    Demonstrate your mastery of Oedipus Rex trivia by accurately remembering pivotal speeches, prophecies, and revelations from the text.

  5. Interpret Instances of Dramatic Irony -

    Recognize moments when the audience's knowledge surpasses the characters' awareness to appreciate the tension and emotional impact.

  6. Apply Knowledge Through Quiz Challenges -

    Use your understanding of the tragedy to tackle our Oedipus the King quiz questions confidently and measure your grasp of Sophocles' masterpiece.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Prophecy and Dramatic Irony -

    Drawing on the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, note how the Oracle's prediction of patricide and incest creates powerful dramatic irony, since the audience understands Oedipus's fate long before he does. Mnemonic PAID (Prophecy, Audience Informed, Dramatic irony, Denial) helps you recall this device during an oedipus the king quiz.

  2. Hubris as Tragic Flaw -

    In line with Aristotle's Poetics, Oedipus's excessive pride - his hubris - blinds him to warnings and seals his downfall. Remember H2F (Hubris = Hero's Fatal Flaw) to pinpoint how arrogance drives key events in any quiz on oedipus rex.

  3. Peripeteia and Anagnorisis -

    Sophocles structures Oedipus the King to deliver swift peripeteia (reversal) and anagnorisis (recognition), a pattern Aristotle lauds as the heartbeat of Greek tragedy. Use the acronym PPESEAR (Prologue, Parodos, Episodes, Stasima, Exodos, Anagnorisis, Reversal) to map the play's flow in oedipus the king trivia.

  4. Fate vs. Free Will -

    Scholarship from the University of Pennsylvania's Classics Department highlights how Oedipus's efforts to outmaneuver destiny spark debate about human agency versus divine decree. Cue the phrase "FF Duel: Fate vs. Free-will" to explore this thematic core in your oedipus rex quiz answers.

  5. Character Web and Family Dynamics -

    The tragic tension rests on Oedipus's tangled roles as son, husband, and king alongside Jocasta, Creon, and Teiresias, as detailed in The Cambridge Companion to Greek Tragedy. Sketching a simple family-triangle diagram can boost recall of relationships in any oedipus the king quiz.

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