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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. If the krypteia have their way, how is Rooster to be punished for rejecting the offer?

2. What does the merchant's sign say?

3. How does Rooster originally feel about Alexandros?

4. Who appears to Diomache in a dream after she aborted her pregnancy and was ill?

5. Who does Xeones list off as some of the members of the tent raiding party?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Rooster returns to the Greeks on the second day of battle?

2. Why do the Spartans want to kill Rooster and his infant son?

3. Explain what the author means when he calls the 300 an all-sire unit.

4. What happens when Leonidas frees the helots on the last day of battle?

5. Why does Xerxes not want to face the Spartans in Sparta?

6. Describe the Medes who first entered battle with the Greeks.

7. How is Rooster spared and why?

8. Describe the plan to assault Xerxes in his own tent.

9. What disturbs Xerxes, the Persian king?

10. Describe the fight between Medes and Greeks.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

During the battle at Thermopylae, several soldiers are caught trying to desert. Answer the following questions:

1. What reasons do the men give for desertion?

2. What reasons does Leonidas give for allowing the men to flee?

3. Why do some of the men beg to be allowed to return to duty after the speech that Leonidas gives?

4. How do the other men feel about those who desert? What do the other men want to do about it?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,136 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample