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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. When does Ovid recommend is the optimal time to get out of a bad love affair?

2. What does Ovid say about seducing the maid of the lady you are after?

3. What does Ovid recommend women pay great attention to?

4. What does Ovid say about women wearing the expensive color purple?

5. After the theater, where does Ovid recommend looking for a mistress?

Short Essay Questions

1. What activity does Ovid say is guaranteed to "let Cupid in" when he is not wanted? What does he recommend as an alternative?

2. What point does Ovid make when he describes the affair of Mars and Venus being discovered and exposed by Vulcan? What does he recommend?

3. Are Daedalus and his son successful in their flight? What happens?

4. How does Ovid feel about flattery?

5. Does Ovid ever recommend crying? When?

6. Summarize the story of Procris and Cephalus. What point does Ovid make?

7. What advice does Ovid give regarding the maids and servants of a lover?

8. Does Ovid recommend seclusion as a cure for love? What does he say on the subject?

9. What advice does Ovid have for men regarding their hair, body, and clothes?

10. According to Ovid in The Art of Love book 2, what difference is there between being a wealthy lover and a poor one?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Ovid lays out a detailed framework for those that wish to be successful courting the other sex. How do you measure up?

Part 1. What specific advice does Ovid give your gender?

Part 2. Are there some parts of the advice that are outdated? Can they be translated to something current? For example, if he refers to a "toga", we can translate it as "clothes."

Part 3. How much of this advice do you currently practice? Do you think your chances in love would be better or worse if you practiced more?

Essay Topic 2

Many of the characters that Ovid cites have complicated stories. Do any of the gods or heroes have a story that particularly intrigues you? The relationship between Achilles and Briseis? The affair of Mars and Venus? The poet Tibullus? The god Cupid? Choose a figure that Ovid cites that interests you and research further into their circumstance and story.

Part 1. Who have you chosen to write about? Why were you attracted to learn more this particular story?

Part 2. Summarize the information you have researched about this figure.

Part 3. What significance does this story or person have?

Essay Topic 3

In the end of Amores Book 1, Ovid names several other authors as timeless and enduring. Write an essay about these other authors.

Part 1. Who are the authors that Ovid names? What do they do?

Part 2. Are these authors still well known?

Part 3. How does the fame of these authors compare to Ovid's?

(see the answer keys)

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