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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is the first idea that Becket relates to his audience and what does he insist that the Chorus "know and do not know?"
(a) Suffering is everything and everything is suffering.
(b) Action is suffering and suffering is action.
(c) Life is suffering and suffering is death.
(d) The world is suffering and they are the world.

2. What is it that the Second Tempter offers Becket?
(a) The English throne.
(b) A new love.
(c) His former political position.
(d) A new life.

3. What, according to the First Tempter, "should be more than biting Time can sever?"
(a) Hope.
(b) Friendship.
(c) Loyalty.
(d) Death.

4. What is not one of the things that the Tempter describes in his flashback of the "good time" Becket used to enjoy in his service to King Henry?
(a) Spring melting the winter ice.
(b) Fires devouring the winter season.
(c) Fluting in the meadows.
(d) Singing at nightfall.

5. Finish the thought of the First Tempter: "A man will often love what he ______."
(a) Misses.
(b) Spurns.
(c) Sees.
(d) Hates.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the Messenger call the relationship between the King and the Archbishop?

2. How many visitors did Beckett expect?

3. What group of people does the Chorus consist of?

4. What is the first word that Becket speaks on his first entrance?

5. What is one thing the Third Tempter and his party want from Beckett?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what is offered by the Second Tempter and why it would appeal to Thomas Beckett

2. After the temptations, what do the Priests want Becket to do? Why?

3. How does the Chorus feel about Becket's return to England?

4. How does Becket believe man can "mourn and rejoice at once for the same reason?"

5. What are the tactics that Eliot writes into the speech of the Second Knight to persuade the audience to see their point of view?

6. Taking into consideration the many opportunities to escape his fate, his many followers begging him to change course, and Becket's own prideful nature, why would Becket choose the path of martyrdom?

7. What is a method that Becket uses to outline his sermon in the Interlude?

8. What does Thomas Becket do to attempt to have a safe passage back into England?

9. After the temptations, what do the Chorus want Becket to do? Why?

10. Before Becket is dragged to the altar by the Three Priests, he seems at peace. How is this possible?

(see the answer keys)

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