Thyestes; Phaedra; the Trojan Women; Oedipus with Octavia Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Thyestes

1. Discuss the backstory of the House of Pelops.

2. Over what is Tantalus agonizing in the afterlife and why?

3. How is Tantalus manipulated into releasing the Fury upon the House of Pelops?

4. Discuss the character of Atreus.

5. What plot does Atreus form against his brother and why?

6. In what conflicting moods does Thyestes find himself as he travels to Argos?

7. What do Thyestes and his children believe about their upcoming meeting with Atreus?