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The Oedipus Plays Trivia Quiz

A quiz covering all three plays: "Oedipus the King", "Oedipus at Colonus", and "Antigone".

A multiple-choice quiz by daniel_floyd. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
daniel_floyd

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
222,961

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
765

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What does the name Oedipus mean in Greek? Hint

Great leader

Swollen foot

Sodomite

Riddle solver

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which of these is not one of Oedipus' children? Hint

Antigone

Eteocles

Ismene

Creon

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Question 3 of 10

3. In "Antigone", whose body has Creon decreed that no one shall bury? Hint

Eteocles

Jocasta

Oedipus

Polynices

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Question 4 of 10

4. In "Oedipus at Colonus", who is the only person to see where Oedipus is buried? Hint

Antigone

Creon

Polynices

Theseus

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Question 5 of 10

5. The chronological order of the Oedipus Trilogy is "Oedipus the King", "Oedipus at Colonus", "Antigone", but what is the order that it was written in? Hint

It was written in chronological order.

"Antigone", "Oedipus the King", "Oedipus at Colonus"

"Oedipus at Colonus", "Antigone", "Oedipus the King"

"Oedipus the King", "Antigone", "Oedipus at Colonus"

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who tells Oedipus that it was Oedipus himself who killed Laius? Hint

Creon

Tieresias

Jocasta

The Sphinx

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which two characters have killed each other in battle before the opening scene of "Antigone"? Hint

Polynices and Eteocles

Creon and Oedipus

Antigone and Ismene

Creon and Antigone

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these is not dead at the end of the trilogy? Hint

Antigone

Oedipus

Creon

Jocasta

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Question 9 of 10

9. Haemon, Antigone's betrothed, is what relation to Creon? Hint

his nephew

his brother

his son

his friend

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who said this quote, "I owe a longer allegiance to the dead than to the living: in that world I shall abide for ever."? Hint

Oedipus

Antigone

Jocasta

Creon

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What does the name Oedipus mean in Greek?

Answer: Swollen foot

In Greek, Oidipous means "swollen foot." Oedipus is named this because of the scars on his ankles, which were caused by his real father, Laius, who put nails through each of his ankles because of the prophecy that Oedipus would kill Laius.

2. Which of these is not one of Oedipus' children?

Answer: Creon

Oedipus had four children: Antigone, Ismene, Eteocles, and Polynices. Creon was his uncle and brother-in-law.

3. In "Antigone", whose body has Creon decreed that no one shall bury?

Answer: Polynices

Creon says that no one shall bury Polynices' body because he attempted to overtake Thebes, and his body will serve as a reminder to the people of what happens to traitors.

4. In "Oedipus at Colonus", who is the only person to see where Oedipus is buried?

Answer: Theseus

Theseus, the king of Athens, vows to help Oedipus because Creon needs his body to help lift a curse that has been placed on Creon and Thebes.

5. The chronological order of the Oedipus Trilogy is "Oedipus the King", "Oedipus at Colonus", "Antigone", but what is the order that it was written in?

Answer: "Antigone", "Oedipus the King", "Oedipus at Colonus"

"Antigone" is accepted to have been written in 442 B.C., "Oedipus the King" is accepted to have been written in 430 B.C., and "Oedipus at Colonus" is accepted to have been written in 407 B.C. "Oedipus at Colonus" was the last play written by Sophocles.

6. Who tells Oedipus that it was Oedipus himself who killed Laius?

Answer: Tieresias

Though Tieresias, the blind "seer" is hesitant to come out with the truth that Oedipus killed Laius while they are in front of the people of Thebes, Oedipus continually insists that he wants the people of Thebes to know the killer's identity, and even insults Tieresias.

7. Which two characters have killed each other in battle before the opening scene of "Antigone"?

Answer: Polynices and Eteocles

The two brothers, Polynices and Eteocles, kill each other in a battle over Thebes. Creon supports Eteocles, but labels Polynices as a traitor.

8. Which of these is not dead at the end of the trilogy?

Answer: Creon

Though he greatly laments his actions throughout the trilogy, Creon is still living at the end. Oedipus dies in Athens in "Oedipus at Colonus", Jocasta hangs herself in "Oedipus the King" when she finds out that Oedipus is her son, and Antigone hangs herself (just like her mother) in "Antigone" in order to avoid being tortured by Creon.

9. Haemon, Antigone's betrothed, is what relation to Creon?

Answer: his son

Haemon pleads with Creon to spare Antigone for burying Polynices' body, and even attempts to attack Creon out of anger. Ultimately, Haemon kills himself, and later, his mother, Creon's wife Eurydice, kills herself also.

10. Who said this quote, "I owe a longer allegiance to the dead than to the living: in that world I shall abide for ever."?

Answer: Antigone

Antigone offers this as the reason for burying her brother Polynices.

Source: Author daniel_floyd

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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