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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. How does Xeones return to life from the grave?

2. What causes Xeones to continue the story?

3. Alexandros wants to go to battle with the older Spartans. Who tries to stop him?

4. How do the soldiers show their disfavor when Polynikes is scolding Alexandros?

5. What happens to the parents of Xeones?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a helot?

2. Who is Bruxieus?

3. Describe the Spartan games.

4. What happens to Xeones after his city is burned?

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

6. Why does Xerxes become impatient with Xeones?

7. Describe the battlefield at Antirhion.

8. Why does Xerxes want to hear about the Spartans?

9. How do the Spartans count their dead?

10. What does the lady Arete reveal to Xeones?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What causes Leonidas to offer freedom to the helots, and allow anyone who does not want to stand and die the opportunity to leave? Why do he and his men remain to fight the Persians, knowing that they will die? What are some reasons that so many of them leave? Does leaving the field of battle, knowing that they can not win and will die, make all of the men who leave cowards? Explain your answer.

Essay Topic 2

There exists between all soldiers of honor and bravery, a certain respect and admiration. What examples of this are given in the book? Compare these to examples of honor and/or bravery in other literary works. Answer the question, "What is the opposite of fear?"

Essay Topic 3

After the battle at Thermopylae, The Persians capture the body of King Leonidas, and mutilate it. Describe what they do to his body. For what reasons might the Persians commit this act of disrespect and defilement on the body of the Spartan king? What about this bothers Xerxes? How does it affect Xerxes' decision making and performance?

Describe the dreams that Xerxes has after Leonidas' body is mutilated. Why is he so plagued by these nightmares? Is he afraid? Explain your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 842 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample