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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. In Part 2, when Iphigenia asks the Herdsman why he was down by the seashore, what is his reply?

2. When Iphigenia is speaking with Orestes outside the temple, she mentions a particular name that is in the world's mouth. What name is that?

3. What does Orestes see that is stained with Hellene's blood?

4. When Iphigenia and Orestes are speaking to each other outside the temple in Part 3, who does Orestes tell Iphigenia is no more trustworthy than a fleeting dream?

5. What does Orestes call Iphigenia throughout Part 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Iphigenia enters from the central door of the temple in the beginning of Part 2, why does she say she is sunk in "bitter tears and deep distress"?

2. In Part 3, after the guards have entered the temple and Iphigenia is alone with the two young strangers, what does she begin asking them about?

3. When Iphigenia enters the scene in Part 5 of Iphigenia in Taurus, what reaction does the king have and why?

4. What happened to the messenger and guards when they tried to hold fast to Iphigenia and prevent Orestes from taking her onto his ship?

5. In Part 5 of Iphigenia in Taurus, who is the first person to enter the scene and what are they concerned with?

6. What does Iphigenia promise she will do after Orestes has been sacrificed?

7. What question does Iphigenia ask Orestes in Part 3 that she longs to ask him?

8. In the beginning of Part 2, who has just exited the scene, who enters the scene, and from where do they enter?

9. When the messenger enters the scene in Part 6 of Iphigenia in Taurus, he ignores the Chorus and eagerly seeks out King Thoas. Why does he do this?

10. In Part 5, why does King Thoas agree to not question why Iphigenia will take so long with the purification process?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Iphigenia in Taurus opens with a prologue that is given by Iphigenia. A prologue is a type of poem to introduce a play. In the story, Iphigenia in Taurus, what is the purpose of the prologue? What type of things are included in Iphigenia's prologue? Of what importance is the prologue in the play? How would the play be different if Orestes opened the play with a prologue of his own? What things do you think he would have included in his prologue?

Essay Topic 2

In the play, Iphigenia in Taurus, there is a parallel drawn between Orestes and Iphigenia being brother and sister and Artemis and Apollo being brother and sister. The play consists of examples of love being shown between each set of brother and sister. What is a parallel and why do you think Euripides included this particular parallel in the story? Do you think either Artemis or Apollo was more sympathetic towards Orestes or Iphigenia because they had a similar relationship? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

In Iphigenia in Taurus, we begin by learning of Iphigenia's terrible past and the fact that her own father gave her up for a sacrifice. After we learn of Orestes' and Pylades' capture, we again hear from Iphigenia as she recounts the events of her childhood in more detail. Why do you think Euripides included another telling of Iphigenia's horrible past? Do you think this makes the reader more prone to feel sorry for Iphigenia and want her to succeed in her escape? Why or why not? Do you think a reader would already feel connected enough to Iphigenia after her first telling of her past, or do you think the second instance was really needed to commit readers to compassion for her character?

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