Directions: Use the available web links to answer the questions listed below. If the link fails, use
another suitable search engine to locate the answer.
You may write your answers on another sheet of paper or copy and paste the questions to a Word
document and then type your answers.
Sophocles
1. Sophocles is the author of Oedipus Rex. When and where was Sophocles born?
2. Name at least two of the other occupations or skills that Sophocles maintained in his life.
3. How did Sophocles fare in his first play writing competition?
4. How many plays did Sophocles write?
5. How many plays have survived in complete form?
6. List three of the plays Sophocles wrote (not including Oedipus Rex).
Greek Theater
7. What Greek God is associated with Greek theater?
8. What does chorus mean?
9. What does the chorus do?
10. While costumes and scenery were not important, what items were?
Vocabulary
11. Look up the following words using this dictionary link:
dramatic irony
hamartia
hubris
oedipus
predestination (or determinism)
Play Background
12. Identify the information listed below for the play Oedipus Rex:
type of work:
setting:
13. List the dramatis personae (characters) in the play.
14. What are the two problems of the play?
The Sphinx
15. What is the sphinx?
16. What is the connection between Oedipus and the sphinx?
17. A sphinx monument, which was built to represent the folkloric character, exists in Egypt.
Sketch this on your paper.
The Oedipus Complex
18. What is the Oedipus complex?
19. Who initially introduced this theory?
20. Why do you think this is no longer widely believed today?
When you have finished the webquest above, you may work on other course materials or click on one of the links
below:
Click here to play the Oedipus Game:
http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~loxias/oedipus/oedipusindex.htm
Click here to learn vocabulary and contribute to the UN World Food program at the same time:
http://www.freerice.com/