Estimated Reading Time: 21 min
Oedipus Rex MCQs
1. At the beginning of Oedipus Rex, what calamity has befallen the city of Thebes?
A. A famine.
B. A plague.
C. A war.
D. A financial crisis.
2. According to Creon, what must the Thebans do to end the plague, as commanded by Phoebus (Apollo)?
A. Sacrifice to the gods.
B. Banish Oedipus.
C. Drive out or punish the killer of Laius.
D. Rebuild the city walls.
3. Who was the king of Thebes immediately before Oedipus?
A. Polybus.
B. Cadmus.
C. Laius.
D. Menoeceus.
4. What monster prevented the Theban citizens from investigating Laius’s murder immediately after his death?
A. A Hydra.
B. A Chimera.
C. The Sphinx.
D. A Minotaur.
5. What does Tiresias accuse Oedipus of when first pressured to reveal the truth?
A. Being a traitor.
B. Being the murderer of Laius.
C. Being an ineffective ruler.
D. Conspiring with Creon.
6. Why does Oedipus become enraged with Tiresias and Creon?
A. He believes they are plotting to overthrow him and steal his throne.
B. He thinks they are withholding a cure for the plague.
C. He discovers they are foreigners.
D. They openly disrespect Jocasta.
7. What key detail about Laius’s death, mentioned by Jocasta, greatly disturbs Oedipus?
A. That he was killed by a single man.
B. That he died in his sleep.
C. That he was killed where a wagon trail divides.
D. That he was killed by a foreign army.
8. What was Oedipus’s original reason for fleeing Corinth?
A. He wanted to seek adventure.
B. He was bored with his life there.
C. An oracle predicted he would kill his father and marry his mother.
D. He was exiled by King Polybus.
9. What new information does the citizen from Corinth bring to Oedipus?
A. That Thebes is under attack.
B. That Oedipus’s supposed father, Polybus, has died.
C. That the plague has ended.
D. That Jocasta is his true mother.
10. How does the Corinthian citizen reveal that Polybus and Merope were not Oedipus’s biological parents?
A. He says he bought Oedipus as a child.
B. He explains he found Oedipus as an infant on Mount Citheron and gave him to Polybus.
C. He shows Oedipus a birth certificate.
D. He claims Oedipus was an orphan he raised himself.
11. What physical characteristic of Oedipus is mentioned as evidence of his past?
A. A distinctive scar on his forehead.
B. A limp from a childhood injury.
C. Swollen ankles from being pierced as an infant.
D. A birthmark on his arm.
12. What was Jocasta’s fate after the truth of Oedipus’ parentage and actions was revealed?
A. She fled Thebes.
B. She committed suicidé by hanging.
C. Shé went blind.
D. She was exiled.
13. What does Oedipus do to himself after discovering Jocasta’s death and the full truth?
A. He stabs himself with a sword.
B. He cuts off his hair in grief.
C. He tears out his eyes with brooches from Jocasta’s gown.
D. He sets the palace on fire.
14. What does Oedipus request from Creon at the end of the play?
A. To be allowed to rule again.
B. To be killed or buried at sea.
C. To be exiled to Mount Citheron.
D. To be reunited with his sons.
15. What is “hubris” defined as in the context of the play?
A. Excessive pride in victory.
B. An arrogant disregard for laws and moral constraints.
C. A tragic flaw of ignorance.
D. A strong desire for power.
16. According to Freud, why does Oedipus Rex have particular appeal compared to other tragedies about fate?
A. Its historical accuracy.
B. Its complex character development.
C. The protagonist succumbs to a fate we all share (love for mother, hate for father).
D. It perfectly depicts free will.
17. In Aristotle’s Poetics, what does hamartia signify in a tragic hero like Oedipus?
A. A blameworthy action.
B. A lack of free will.
C. An error or mistake.
D. A moral failing.
18. How do the Thebans perceive Oedipus at the beginning of the play?
A. As a new, untested ruler.
B. As an evil tyrant.
C. As the foremost man in life’s mishaps and reconciling those above, their savior.
D. As the cause of their plague.
19. What does Oedipus explicitly forbid concerning Laius’s murderer?
A. Speaking his name.
B. Killing him immediately.
C. Greeting him, speaking to him, offering prayers with him, or washing hands with him.
D. Allowing him to leave Thebes.
20. What relationship does Oedipus claim he will fight for Laius, due to their shared circumstances?
A. As a fellow citizen.
B. As though he were his father.
C. As a former king.
D. As a god’s ally.
21. What does Tiresias initially say when summoned by Oedipus?
A. He is ready to reveal the truth.
B. He fears Oedipus’s anger.
C. How dreadful wisdom is when wisdom brings no gain! and asks to go home.
D. He already knows the killer’s identity.
22. What does Tiresias say about Oedipus’s sight and knowledge?
A. He has perfect sight and knowledge.
B. He has eyes but does not see his evil state or from whom he came.
C. He sees only what he wants to see.
D. His knowledge will save him.
23. How does Tiresias describe Oedipus’s future fate?
A. He will regain his sight.
B. He will become Thebes’ savior again.
C. He will be blind, a beggar, and wander a foreign land.
D. He will be honored as a king.
24. What does Creon primarily argue against Oedipus’s accusation?
A. He claims his innocence by divine right.
B. He was not in Thebes at the time.
C. He has no desire to be a tyrant when he already has equal privilege without the burdens.
D. He has witnesses to his loyalty.
25. What does Jocasta state about human mantic skill?
A. It is always accurate.
B. It is divinely inspired.
C. No human being possesses mantic skill.
D. It is only for specific individuals.
26. What was the reaction of Laius’s sole surviving servant when he returned to Thebes and saw Oedipus had taken charge?
A. He celebrated the new king.
B. He immediately accused Oedipus.
C. He begged to be sent to distant pasturelands.
D. He remained silent.
27. What was the “incident” that led Oedipus to secretly visit Pytho (Delphi)?
A. A threat from Creon.
B. A drunkard calling him illegitimate.
C. The Sphinx’s arrival.
D. A desire for adventure.
28. What specific detail from the shepherd’s story would confirm Oedipus’s innocence regarding Laius’s murder?
A. If he said the victim was not Laius.
B. If he still referred to robbers or many men as the killers.
C. If he said the murder was accidental.
D. If he mentioned a single killer.
29. What is Jocasta’s advice to Oedipus regarding his mother’s nuptials?
A. To return and confront the oracle.
B. To marry someone else.
C. To forget about them, as chance controls fortunes and many men share mothers’ beds in dreams.
D. To consult a new oracle.
30. What does Oedipus’s name (Oedipus) mean, according to the Corinthian citizen?
A. Great king.
B. Savior of Thebes.
C. Swollen-foot.
D. Child of destiny.
31. What does Jocasta do immediately after realizing the truth about Oedipus’s birth?
A. She tries to kill Oedipus.
B. She attempts to flee.
C. She leaves the stage, stating, I weep for you, unlucky man.
D. She consults an oracle.
32. What does Oedipus declare himself to be, despite the revelations of his lowly birth?
A. The son of a slave.
B. Fortune’s child.
C. The gods’ enemy.
D. A man without destiny.
33. Why did Jocasta give Laius’s man instructions to dispose of the baby?
A. Because the baby was ill.
B. Because of her fear of prophecies.
C. Because Laius commanded it.
D. To prevent a family dispute.
34. Why did Laius’s man give the baby to the Corinthian shepherd instead of disposing of him?
A. He feared Laius.
B. He wanted a reward.
C. Out of pity, assuming the child would be carried to foreign parts.
D. He wanted to save the child for misery.
35. What is Oedipus’s immediate reaction upon realizing the full truth of his origins?
A. He celebrates his identity.
B. He curses the gods.
C. He cries, O light—the last I’ll ever see, I stand exposed, all wrong.
D. He seeks to escape Thebes.
36. According to the servant, what was Jocasta’s final action?
A. She fled the palace.
B. She confronted Oedipus.
C. She hanged herself in her marriage bed.
D. She died of the plague.
37. What did Jocasta curse as she was dying?
A. Oedipus’s name.
B. The oracles.
C. Her bed for bearing children by her child and a husband by her husband.
D. The city of Thebes.
38. Why did Oedipus blind himself?
A. To avoid seeing his suffering.
B. He cried that his eyes would never look upon the evils he’d experienced or done.
C. As a punishment from the gods.
D. To symbolize his ignorance.
39. What does Oedipus specifically ask Creon to ensure for his daughters?
A. They are married into noble families.
B. They are exiled with him.
C. To take care of them and allow him to touch them.
D. They are allowed to rule Thebes.
40. According to the synopsis, what do Oedipus’s sons, Polynices and Eteocles, do after his exile?
A. They unite to rule Thebes.
B. They bring Oedipus back to Thebes.
C. They fight over the throne and end up killing each other.
D. They become allies of Creon.
41. What does Tiresias eventually declare about Oedipus concerning the murderer?
A. He knows who the murderer is.
B. He is allied with the murderer.
C. The murderer you’re looking for is you!
D. The murderer is a foreign resident.
42. What does Creon primarily argue against Oedipus’s accusation?
A. He claims his innocence by divine right.
B. He was not in Thebes at the time.
C. He has no desire to be a tyrant when he already has equal privilege without the burdens.
D. He has witnesses to his loyalty.
43. Why did Jocasta give Laius’s man instructions to dispose of the baby?
A. Because the baby was ill.
B. Because of her fear of prophecies.
C. Because Laius commanded it.
D. To prevent a family dispute.
44. According to the servant, what was Jocasta’s final action?
A. She fled the palace.
B. She confronted Oedipus.
C. She hanged herself in her marriage bed.
D. She died of the plague.
45. According to the synopsis, what do Oedipus’s sons, Polynices and Eteocles, do after his exile?
A. They unite to rule Thebes.
B. They bring Oedipus back to Thebes.
C. They fight over the throne and end up killing each other.
D. They become allies of Creon.
46. What does Tiresias say about Oedipus’s sight and knowledge?
A. He has perfect sight and knowledge.
B. He has eyes but does not see his evil state or from whom he came.
C. He sees only what he wants to see.
D. His knowledge will save him.
47. What does Jocasta state about human mantic skill?
A. It is always accurate.
B. It is divinely inspired.
C. No human being possesses mantic skill.
D. It is only for specific individuals.
48. What does Oedipus’s name (Oedipus) mean, according to the Corinthian citizen?
A. Great king.
B. Savior of Thebes.
C. Swollen-foot.
D. Child of destiny.
49. Why did Laius’s man give the baby to the Corinthian shepherd instead of disposing of him?
A. He feared Laius.
B. He wanted a reward.
C. Out of pity, assuming the child would be carried to foreign parts.
D. He wanted to save the child for misery.
50. What is Oedipus’s immediate reaction upon realizing the full truth of his origins?
A. He celebrates his identity.
B. He curses the gods.
C. He cries, O light—the last I’ll ever see, I stand exposed, all wrong.
D. He seeks to escape Thebes.
