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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. How does Antony kiss Cleopatra before departing for battle near Alexandria?

2. Whom does Caesar put in the van of his attack against Antony at Alexandria?

3. Upon what does one of the soldiers place his hope of the battle on foot in Act 4, Scene 3?

4. Who is speaking in Act 4, Scene 11?

5. To where does the speaker in Act 4, Scene 11, say the speaker and company must go?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the news of Cleopatra's death affect Antony's actions?

2. How does Cleopatra comport herself towards Antony in Act 4, Scene 4?

3. How does the course of the battle change in Act 4, Scene 10?

4. What happens to Enobarbus after his speech in Act 4, Scene 9?

5. How does Antony react to the desertion by Enobarbus?

6. What does the sudden music expose within the soldiers of Antony before the battle at Alexandria?

7. What characterizes Enobarbus' speech which he calls upon the moon to witness?

8. How has the battle gone so far, in Act 4, Scene 7?

9. Why does Enobarbus say he will seek out a ditch in which he may die?

10. How does Caesar gain an advantage by holding his land forces still?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the third act of the play, the fortunes of the two sides of the external conflict are reversed by the machinations of free will. Examine in a thoroughly-developed analytical essay this reversal of fortune. How had the fortunes of Antony and his companions been positively progressing throughout the first few acts of the play? In what way do they regress in the second half? How is this affected in the third act of the play? What particular actions, and of whom, are responsible for the inception of the downfall of the triumvir Antony and in what do they consist?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the play, Caesar uses many incidents and faults of others to his own advantage. Although not the philosophy promoted in the 18th century, this is nonetheless an evaluation of people and objects based on their utility, and thus a form of utilitarianism. Compose an analytical essay that evaluates Caesar's methods of evaluating others. In what ways does Caesar put to use other people, objects, incidents, situations, or human faults? Upon what basis does he reward or punish individuals? What is the moral significance of such a method of evaluation? What is problematic about using others as a means to one's own end?

Essay Topic 3

The tragic conclusion of Antony and Cleopatra is somewhat mitigated by the portrayal and evident Roman perception of the nobility of suicide. By carefully developing a well-structured essay, analyze the reasons behind the Roman view of suicide and explicate how this effects the conclusion of the play. What is significant about the various characters ending their own lives? How does such action alter the ending of the play? What is the fundamental correlation between death and nobility? Upon what principles is the Roman conception of suicide in the face of being conquered as noble founded? Be sure to explicate through examples from the text.

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