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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. The divine prototype for marriage is the hierogamy of Surya and _____.

2. The overturned cask is a frequent metaphor for a _____.

3. Pusan presides over _____.

4. The _____ in "Indra and the Monkey" is regarded as the indigenous inhabitant, regarded as demonic.

5. What is the metaphor used in "Parjanya, the Cow" to represent the cloud that does not give rain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Varuna asked to protect the worshiper from in regards to his own power?

2. Why does the author say it is a possibility that priests are being satirized in "The Frogs"?

3. In "Indra and the Maruts", why does Indra mock the Maruts?

4. In "Varuna Provoked to Anger", what is the nature of Vasistha's sins toward Varuna?

5. What does the poet ask for at the end of "Parjanya, the Bull", and why?

6. Why is the Rig Veda described in "Realia" as worldly?

7. What is the meaning or the invocation, 'O, master of the stones' in "The House of Clay"?

8. What is Yami's argument to persuade Yama to have incest relations with her, and who does she invoke to aid her with this?

9. What is the conflict present in all of the dialogues with women in the Rig Veda? Who succeeds, and who fails in this conflict?

10. How is the phrase 'O, little mother' a triple entendre in "Indra and the Monkey"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the author characterize the nature of the Rig Veda in the section entitled "Realia"? Why are the gods usually invoked? What is her opinion on the relationship between the ideas in the Rig Veda and the material world?

Essay Topic 2

What tasks is Varuna charged with? Who is Varuna a friend of? What threatens their friendship? How is this resolved?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the relationship between male and female characters in the Rig Veda. Do females have an equal role in the texts? Who is the female counterpart to Yama and what is she known for? Do females invoke the gods? How are female characters voiced?

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