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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. Why has Strepsiades run into financial difficulties?

2. What does Socrates ask the jury to believe about the gods in Apology?

3. What relationship is Strepsiades to Pheidippides?

4. What is the origin of the title The Clouds?

5. Aristophanes' portrayal of Socrates would most closely match whose perception of Socrates?

Short Essay Questions

1. By the end of The Clouds, how has Strepsiades changed? What are his beliefs?

2. What represents the "last straw" in Strepsiades' relationship with his son? Why does he refuse to speak to him in the end?

3. What does Aristophanes accuse Socrates of in The Clouds?

4. What is the nature of Strepsiades' most pressing problem? What does he hope to learn from Socrates? What does Socrates in turn teach him?

5. In Apology, what is Socrates' message in a final speech, both to his jurors and to those who defended him?

6. How does Socrates, in Crito, state his case for why he will remain in jail and face his death sentence? What forms are in use?

7. What gives law authority, according to Socrates?

8. How does Pheidippides enter the Thinkery? What does he learn there?

9. What violent action does Pheidippides visit upon his father? How does Pheidippides justify his action?

10. Given Crito's criticism of Socrates, what segment of society can Crito be said to represent?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do a comparative analysis of Apology and Crito.

1) Can the character of Socrates be said to be different between the two dialogues? Why or why not?

2) How is Socrates' conception of the law and justice different between the two dialogues?

3) Compare how Socrates believes one should live one's life in Apology, versus how Socrates believes one should live one's life in Crito.

Essay Topic 2

Aristophanes approaches the topic of science versus religion in a different way than Plato. Discuss the nature of this difference, using specific examples from each text. To each author, what harm (if any) does science pose to a society? What is the role of religion in society? What are the dangers (if any) of religion in a society? Can the two peacefully coexist, or must they always be in conflict?

Essay Topic 3

1) What are the exact nature of the charges leveled against Socrates?

2) Why might youth be particularly drawn to Socrates and his philosophy?

3) How does Socrates' reputation contribute to the charges against him?

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