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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 is the first action that the Second Priest wants to take to welcome the Archbishop back to Canterbury?

2. What does the Third Tempter believe upon his arrival?

3. What character(s) opens the play with the first monologue?

4. According to the Chorus, what does the Archbishop bring into Canterbury?

5. What doesn't the Third Priest see in "the art of temporal government?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What is special about the day the Interlude takes place?

2. How does the Chorus perceive the actions of the play and its part in it?

3. What is one of the more specific crimes the Knights bring up in their accusations?

4. What is Becket's relationship to his congregation?

5. What does Becket ask his flock to remember?

6. What might be a reason Becket chose to do this speech?

7. What is the meaning of the urgency behind the Knight's demands upon entering the scene?

8. Why was the Fourth Tempter most effective in his temptation compared to the other three?

9. How long has Thomas Becket been away from Canterbury? Why has he chosen to stay away for so long?

10. What is the initial and more general accusation the Knights' hold against the Archbishop?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

After the murder of Thomas Becket, the Four Knights have a chance to explain their different reasons for assassinating the Archbishop. Write an essay with the following parts:

Part 1) Choose one of the Four Knights arguments. Study their speech and outline their argument.

Part 2) Choose to either support their point or debate their point and write an argument for or against the assassination.

Essay Topic 2

There are many references to the broken relationship between Becket and King Henry II. What was their personal and political relationship like before their falling out? What were Becket's crimes against the monarchy, and what did Henry do to instigate them? What has their relationship consisted of since Becket returned to England? How have they changed? Use examples from the text to back your assertions.

a) Using what you know about the two characters, whose side would you back based on your own political and spiritual outlook? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The Chorus seems to believe in a "Void." They believe that God's judgment will lead Becket to this Void rather than a peaceful afterlife. The Fourth Knights insists that Becket commits suicide. Using examples from the text, argue whether or not you believe that Becket's actions, which he knew would lead to murder, were justified and moral. Consider: if Becket coordinated his own death, could he still bring about the order he believes martyrdom will bring about? By the end of the play, is he still doing "the right deed for the wrong reason?"

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