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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 Orestes suggest that he and Pylades do, to which Pylades replies, "out of the question- we're not used to it"?

2. Who does Iphigenia think her dream is about in Part 1?

3. When Orestes cries to Phoebus, who does he claim he has killed?

4. When the Herdsman is telling Iphigenia about the capture of the strangers, he tells her that one of the strangers drew his sword. What did the stranger do with his sword?

5. Which end of the Crimean Peninsula does the opening scene take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Part 5 of Iphigenia in Taurus, why does King Thoas tell Iphigenia that it is natural that the city honors her?

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

3. 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?

4. Iphigenia explains in Part 2 that the men in her homeland already know her fate. What do they think has happened to Iphigenia?

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

6. What does Orestes request Pylades do for him when he returns home?

7. When the messenger and guards had sat waiting for Iphigenia to perform the purification process in Part 6, they finally became worried about what was taking so long. What did they think could have happened to Iphigenia?

8. What plan does Iphigenia devise to make sure her message gets to its destination if the letter is lost or taken?

9. When Iphigenia tells Orestes what her plan is for sending her letter back, what does Orestes say to her about a change in plans, and why does he want to change Iphigenia's plans?

10. Why does Iphigenia tell King Thoas the young strangers need to be cleansed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the play, Iphigenia in Taurus, the theme of betrayal is evident when we learn of Iphigenia's father, Agamemnon, betraying his own daughter. How does Agamemnon betray others that he loves during this time? Do you think Agamemnon felt sorry for what happened to his daughter? Later on, Agamemnon is betrayed. By who? Do you think Euripides used the betrayal of Iphigenia by her father as a kind of foreshadowing of another betrayal yet to come? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

During the play, Iphigenia in Taurus, Orestes is hounded by the Furies and he is driven into a mad-like state by their tauntings. How is the appearance of the Furies in the play similar to someone having a conscience? What things do they make Orestes feel? How is this similar to someone that has something bad on their conscience? Even though Orestes feels like what he did to his mother is right, do you still think he feels guilty anyway? Why or why not?

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