View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How often were trophies made in ancient Greece?

2. What type of literature is Betty Radice known for?

3. What aspect of fund raising does Xenophon choose to focus on in the second chapter?

4. What happened to the reeds in the story?

5. How many ships were made available to Cyrus by his Spartan ally?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to the editor, Betty Radice, what is the difference between a memoir and history?

2. What hardships did the sailors encounter when they were not at war?

3. How was Mania's son-in-law convinced to betray her?

4. What is the main point of Cinadon's story?

5. Why was Xenophon's loyalty questioned when he served in the Athenian military?

6. As Xenophon's stories display, how might fighting wars be a necessary step towards peace?

7. What were the reasons why women of ancient Greece would want to be included in the military, and what were some of the reasons why they would not?

8. How is Xenophon's writing style compared to contemporary writers?

9. What effect did the Athenian civil war have on the relationship between Athens and Sparta?

10. What was the politician's objection to the idea of plundering a town for money?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the conversation about marriage that Xenophon documents in his story. Use the advice given in the discussion to explain how marriage is viewed in ancient Greece, which things are considered to be the most important in selecting a spouse, and whether or not their priorities are an indication of their culture or society.

Essay Topic 2

The author's motivations for writing the book, "A History of My Times", are revealed by the editor, establishing an important framework for the reader.

1) Explain what motivates Xenophon to write his story, based on the editor's notes and his own commentary.

2) Describe the main points that Xenophon is trying to make in the book and why.

3) Compare Xenophon's writing style with the style of contemporary non-fiction writers.

Essay Topic 3

Explain how and why Xenophon chooses to depict Alcibiades and the battles that involve him in the story. Use the references made in the book to analyze how Xenophon's story adds information to previous events, and the reputation of Alcibiades' mentor, Socrates. Include whether or not you think Xenophon is objective in his description of Alcibiades, considering his admiration for Socrates.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 931 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample