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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. What is the main theme of the Memoirs?

2. What does the author point out about his Socratic writings in Chapter 1?

3. How does Socrates argue one can modify someone else's behavior?

4. What does Socrates tell Critobulus he should do to deserve good people in his life?

5. What forced the jurors to condemn Socrates, according to Xenophon?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why doesn't Socrates prepare for his defense before the trial?

2. Why is Memoirs of Socrates hard to date? What does the editor believe about the validity of the piece?

3. Describe the conversation between Pericles and Alcibiades in subsection 2 of Chapter 2, Book 1.

4. How does Socrates open his defense, and how does he refer to the Oracle of Delphi as part of his argument?

5. How did Socrates' instruction benefit Crito in subsection 9 of Chapter 2, Book 2?

6. How does Socrates' conversation with Aristippus illustrate that he encouraged his friends to be self-disciplined with regard to their bodily desires?

7. In Chapter 2, Book 1, what does the editor clarify about the concepts of self-discipline and free action?

8. What were the main charges that Socrates was accused of at his trial?

9. What type of friends does Socrates tell Cristobulus that he should set to acquire?

10. What did Socrates try to teach Chaerephon and Chaerecrates in Subsection 3 of Chapter 2, Book 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Xenophon show that Socrates was a good man, and why does he feel this is important?

Essay Topic 2

What is the main topic of conversation at Callias' dinner party in Chapter 3, and how does Socrates feel about this topic?

Essay Topic 3

Investigate "Conversations of Socrates" as an apologia. How does it adhere to and differ from the typical apologia? What changes could be made to mark it more clearly as an apologia? What changes could be made to prevent critics from classifying the book as an apologia?

(see the answer keys)

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