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. What does Socrates emphasize about the outcome of the trial?

2. Who does Alcibiades have a discussion with about the nature of law?

3. What does Hermogenes claim could be the outcome of the trial?

4. According to Socrates, why was he not introducing new deities?

5. At the start of subsection 7, what does Xenophon relate Socrates has done for his friends?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why did Socrates have an arrogant tone at his trial according to Xenophon?

3. According to Xenophon why was Socrates convicted, and how was his fate appropriate?

4. Why does the editor present Socrates' defense first in this collection of Socratic dialogues?

5. How is the anecdote about Critias and Alebiades used to prove that Socrates did not have a negative effect on the youth?

6. In subsection 1 of Chapter 2, Book 1, what does Xenophon say about Socrates in defense of the charges that he worshiped different gods than the state and introduced new deities?

7. What does Socrates tell his oldest son when Lamprodes is angry with his mother Xanthippe?

8. What does Socrates say in response to the charge of corrupting the young?

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

10. How does Xenophon define the concept to the "true good" in Chapter 2, Book 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Find two conversations that address the same topic in this collection. Compare and contrast these two anecdotes.

Essay Topic 2

What is the purpose of the editor beginning this collection of Socratic dialogues with Socrates' Defense?

Essay Topic 3

What charges was Socrates accused and convicted of, and how does Xenophon defend Socrates against each of these charges in "Conversations of Socrates"?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 768 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample