View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. After King Thoas has heard about the escape of Iphigenia, Orestes, and Pylades he suggests that they capture them, fling them down the rocky cliffs and impale their bodies on what?

2. When Orestes is trying to prove to Iphigenia who he is, he speaks of two people that nursed a feud. Who are they?

3. What is the first thing Iphigenia requests of King Thoas when beginning with the purification ritual after she finishes explaining the need for the ritual?

4. After King Thoas has ordered the guards to go towards the shore to try to capture the escapees and the guards make off toward the shore, who appears?

5. Besides the young strangers, what else does Iphigenia tell King Thoas she must purify?

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

When Iphigenia is telling King Thoas about the purification rituals she'll have to perform on Orestes, Pylades, and the statue of Artemis, she is confident in what she is telling him even though it is not the truth. Do you think Iphigenia had a lot of courage to lie to the King, or do you think it was easy for her to lie to him? Why do you think King Thoas trusted Iphigenia so fully? When Thoas was preparing his guardsmen to seize and capture Orestes, Pylades, and Iphigenia from their ship, why did the appearance of Athena stop him? Do you think all the mortal characters in the play were fully trusting of all the gods? Why or why not? If not, who do you think did not trust what the gods were about? Explain your reasoning and use specific examples from the play to support your ideas.

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 548 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample