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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. Who is Macer?

2. What does Ovid bid farewell to at the end of Amores book 3?

3. What spectacle does Ovid watch in Amores 3:2?

4. What story does Ovid tell in Amores 3:6 in hopes of winning sympathy?

5. In Amores 2:4, what type of woman does Ovid express a preference for?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Ovid waiting outside a door in Amores 1:6? What does he hope will happen?

2. Why does Corinna's hair fall out? What does Ovid recommend as a solution?

3. Describe Ovid at the chariot races.

4. How does Ovid embody the dilemma between writing love poems and writing tragedies in Amores Book 3?

5. What does Ovid devote an entire poem to compare lovers to in Amores? Why are they similar?

6. Why is Elegy lame and "short in one foot" in the beginning of Amores book 2?

7. In Amores book 3, why does Ovid regret writing elegies of Corinna and her beauty?

8. Who is Macer and what is Ovid's relationship with him?

9. What does Ovid say about abortion?

10. In Amores 3:11, Ovid grapples with conflicting emotions regarding Corinna. What are they and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Art of Love contains a lot of good information but some of it is also outdated. Some is simply outdated such as purple is no longer a pretentious color to wear because purple dye is no longer costly. Some reflect changing cultures and gender roles. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Ovid's advice in The Art of Love.

Part 1. As a sum total, what is the worth of Ovid's advice? Is the quality of his advice different for the different genders?

Part 2. What has become outdated? Can it be modernized to fit today's society?

Part 3. What might be important today that he could not have known about or included when he lived and wrote?

Essay Topic 2

Ovid gives quite a bit of detailed advice to both genders about how to fare well in love. How does his advice differ for the genders?

Part 1. What discrepancy is there in the enduring quality of the advice Ovid gives between the genders?

Part 2. Have gender roles changed since Rome in 4AD? How? Have the changes been significant or minor?

Part 3. What fundamental aspects would have to change for The Art of Love to be updated?

Essay Topic 3

Unlike many other famous pieces of literature, it is the approach to Ovid's work and its format, and not just its content, that offers enduring value and interest. Discuss the concept of creating artistic value of commonplace experiences.

Part 1. What is the difference between approach and content to create a final written product of enduring value?

Part 2. What examples of literature or other writing famous for its approach have been found throughout history? What are illuminated manuscripts?

Part 3. What inherent value do you see this as having? Would you adopt it to make your own commonplace experience extraordinary? If so, what approach would you use?

(see the answer keys)

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