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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is not one of the events of the past seven years that the Chorus describes?

2. What does Becket call "the springtime fancy?"

3. Who states that "Power is present. Holiness hereafter?"

4. What doesn't the Third Priest see in "the art of temporal government?"

5. What does the First Tempter predict for Becket if he does not "leave well alone?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the Priests enter at the beginning of Part II to change the ambiance of the play? Do you believe it is effective?

2. What does Thomas Becket do to attempt to have a safe passage back into England?

3. What is a literary tool that Becket uses in writing the interlude?

4. According to Becket, what did God mean when he told his disciples "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."

5. Why does Becket tell the Chorus to be at peace as they lament and ask for forgiveness?

6. What story does Becket tell about Christmas Day? Why is it important?

7. According to Becket, how do we define peace?

8. What does the First Tempter use to entice Thomas Becket?

9. How does the Chorus perceive the actions of the play and its part in it?

10. What seems to be Becket's hubris that many characters mention and the Tempters attempt to play upon?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Interlude is the sermon Becket gives on Christmas Day. He says it may be his last.

1) Who is this sermon directed to? What is his relationship to them?

2) What is the main argument of his speech and what are the points that lead up to his conclusion?

3) What is the purpose of this final sermon? What does he want from the audience? How does he make it an effective speech?

Essay Topic 2

There are many references to the broken relationship between Becket and King Henry II. What was their personal and political relationship like before their falling out? What were Becket's crimes against the monarchy, and what did Henry do to instigate them? What has their relationship consisted of since Becket returned to England? How have they changed? Use examples from the text to back your assertions.

a) Using what you know about the two characters, whose side would you back based on your own political and spiritual outlook? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The three Priests have been without the Archbishop's leadership for seven years. His return is important to their spiritual well-being.

Part 1) What is the Priests' outlook on Becket's return? What is the opinion of the First Priest? The Second? The Third?

Part 2) Compare the similarities and differences between the individual opinions of the Priests and that of Becket's in regard to his return. What viewpoints do these people represent?

Part 3) Describe how Becket's return was important to these three men and how it reflects the needs of the community of Canterbury as a whole. What is his relationship to this group?

(see the answer keys)

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