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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 does Dienekes tell Alexandros after Polynikes' lecture?

2. Who is Paraleio?

3. To whom does Xeones tell his story?

4. Why does Xeones go out into a snowstorm to freeze to death?

5. What is the purpose of the speech Leonidas gives after this battle?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do the Spartans count their dead?

2. Describe the Spartan games.

3. What does the lady Arete reveal to Xeones?

4. Why does Xeones refuse to continue with the story? What happens that causes him to continue?

5. What is a helot?

6. How does Xeones come to be in the Persian camp?

7. Describe the Spartan line formation.

8. How does Xeones begin his story?

9. Why do the Spartans punish their young boys by whipping them?

10. Why does Diomache feel that no one will want to marry her?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the landscape of the Hot Gates, and the advantages that it provides the Spartans. Are there any advantages in the landscape for the Persians? Why do the Spartans choose this as the place for the battle?

Essay Topic 2

When the Persians arrive at the Hot Gates, they take about two days to attack. What are they doing during that time? Why does it take so long?

Describe the stress and anxiety that might build up for the Greeks over the course of a couple of days of waiting for an attack from a force that greatly outnumbers them. Is it important to distract the soldiers from this stress? Why or why not?

How does Leonidas have his men deal with it? What ways of dealing with the stress do some of the men find for themselves? How would you suggest dealing with pre-battle stress, and why?

Essay Topic 3

In ancient Greece, just like many other ancient civilizations, crimes were punished much more severely than they are now. Many crimes involving stealing would result in losing a hand, or having the hands crippled. Have students write an essay answering the following questions:

1. What are these kinds of punishments no longer in use? What caused them to be discontinued in the Western world?

2. Are these kinds of punishments still in use today? If they are, then where, and why?

3. Do you feel that capital and corporal punishment is appropriate punishment for most crimes? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

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