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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 responds by hurting the Persian ambassador for trying to lash one of the army members?

2. What kinds of shields do the Persian army carry, which are also not very effective against the Greeks?

3. What does Leonidas order the Spartans to use as their formation when he begins to realize the power of the animals?

4. Who does Leonidas call by his given name, thus restoring pride to him?

5. The Spartans only need to defend a narrow strip of ______________ against the Persian attack when they are at the Hot Gates.

Short Essay Questions

1. Where do the Spartan defensive tactics center (location-wise) in the beginning of this chapter?

2. Why doesn't Leonidas accept Ephialtes as a soldier in the Spartan army when he asks to be a part of the march?

3. What does Leonidas do in order to restore the honor of Stelios before the other men?

4. Who is the Persian representative that come into camp as the Spartans begin to ready for a major battle?

5. What is the initial reaction to the Persian Ambassador when he comes into camp?

6. What is the hoplite phalanx formation that the Spartans use and what happens when it is used in battle?

7. What formation does Leonidas command once he realizes the camels might prove problematic in battle?

8. What does the Persian Ambassador do, even after his significant injury?

9. What tale does Dilios tell as the Persian Ambassador visits the Spartan camp?

10. What kinds of armor and weaponry do the Persians have during battle?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In some respects, it seems like Leonidas (at the start of the story) is more of a follower than a leader.

Part 1: Why doesn't Leonidas make up his own mind when it comes to the Persian envoy's demands of him?

Part 2: What might have happened if Leonidas has simply agreed to the demands of the Persian envoy?

Part 3: Do you think the Persian envoy was trying to manipulate Leonidas? Why or why not? If so, how?

Essay Topic 2

The physical training Leonidas asks of his soldiers is intense, but necessary in order to fight well on the battlefield.

Part 1: Why do you think Leonidas values this intense training?

Part 2: Why haven't the soldiers been put into this intense training until just before the battle?

Part 3: If the soldiers Leonidas picked were already professional soldiers, why do they need more training?

Essay Topic 3

The theme of war is one that pervades this story, though it seems at times to take over the minds of men and make them do things that they might not have normally done.

Part 1: Why do you think Persia and Sparta are at war with each other?

Part 2: Do you think Persia and Sparta could ever stop being at war and come to a truce? Why or why not?

Part 3: How does the war between Persia and Sparta compare with modern day wars? How is it similar and how is it different?

(see the answer keys)

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