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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What direction does the Chorus move when singing the strophe?
(a) Left to right.
(b) Back to front.
(c) Right to left.
(d) Front to back.

2. How does Ajax's wife try to talk him out of killing himself?
(a) By asking him to consider her shame if he killed himself.
(b) By mentioning that he has people depending on him.
(c) By asking him to consider his father's shame if he killed himself.
(d) By mentioning he has a son to raise.

3. When is this play set?
(a) Early in the Spartan War.
(b) Late in the Spartan War.
(c) Late in the Trojan War.
(d) Early in the Trojan War.

4. What is the strophe?
(a) The finishing of the Chorus' song.
(b) The middle of the Chorus' song.
(c) The turning of the Chorus away from the audience.
(d) The turning of the Chorus to one side.

5. What will happen to Ajax's wife if he dies?
(a) Becomes a slave.
(b) Re-marries.
(c) Has to stay home and raise her son.
(d) Is given to another man.

6. What did Tecmessa do to Ajax's son while Ajax was mad?
(a) Hid him.
(b) Took him back to the ship.
(c) Sent him to battle.
(d) Sent him home.

7. What is the name of the person who wrote Ajax?
(a) Plato.
(b) Homer.
(c) Socrates.
(d) Sophocles.

8. What is Odysseus examining when Athena appears?
(a) The ground.
(b) The stars.
(c) The sky.
(d) The trees.

9. Who is Tecmessa?
(a) Ajax's daughter.
(b) Ajax's wife.
(c) Ajax's captive.
(d) Ajax's servant.

10. What does Ajax strive not to be in his actions?
(a) A fool.
(b) A religious man.
(c) A coward.
(d) A smart man.

11. Where does Athena appear from at the beginning of the play?
(a) From the shadows.
(b) The trees.
(c) Above.
(d) Below.

12. What did Ajax do in the middle of the carnage that he wrought?
(a) Die.
(b) Sleep.
(c) Collapse.
(d) Cry.

13. What does Ajax compare living without honor to?
(a) Living in shame.
(b) Capture by the enemy.
(c) Dying.
(d) Living in fear.

14. Who does the Chorus think will grieve if Ajax continues to be self-destructive?
(a) His sister.
(b) His grandmother.
(c) His aunt.
(d) His mother.

15. What will happen to the rest of Ajax's armor?
(a) It will be thrown in the ocean.
(b) It will be buried with him.
(c) It will be used by someone else.
(d) It will be burned.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the Chorus call the mood that Ajax is in during Part II?

2. What traditional element of Classical Greek theater consists of a number of actors speaking with a single voice?

3. How does Athena first refer to Odysseus?

4. Who doubts Tecmessa when she says that Ajax is regaining his sanity?

5. Why does Ajax slaughter a herd of cattle?

(see the answer keys)

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