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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 origin of the title The Clouds?

2. Aristophanes is known for using what kind of rhetoric?

3. Which god advises Strepsiades with respect to his faith?

4. How many years after The Clouds did the trial of Socrates happen?

5. What is Aristophanes' general attitude toward Socrates?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Socrates' conception of the law and justice in Crito compare to his conception of law and justice in Apology?

2. Why did Socrates offer such a meek defense and go to prison and his death so willingly?

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

4. What are the consequences of breaking the law?

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

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

7. Who is Strepsiades? Why does he enter Socrates' Thinkery?

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

9. According to Socrates, why must one not commit injustices?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Crito, Socrates offers an argument for why he should obey the law.

1) In Socrates' view, what gives law authority?

2) What are the negative consequences of law breaking?

3) Why must experts be relied upon, and how do they relate to laws and obeying of those laws?

Essay Topic 2

In Apology, Socrates sets up a conflict between science and religion.

1) Why are science and religion in conflict, at least in the world of Athens, according to Socrates?

2) What danger does science pose to Athenian society? Why are scientists often accused of atheism in this society?

3) What compels Socrates to pursue trains of thought that could be said to resemble science?

4) How does Socrates, in his Apology defense, reconcile science and religion? Can the two coexist?

Essay Topic 3

The Clouds can be said to be a satire. What is a satire? What literary devices does Aristophanes use to achieve a satirical play? What tone does he use? How does hyperbole factor in to the satirical presentation of the play? Use specific examples from the play.

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