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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 Beckett believe to be the last temptation and what he fears the most?

2. What does the Chorus claim is their purpose in the action of the play?

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

4. What is the feeling of the general public in regard to the Archbishop's return?

5. What does the First Tempter predict for Becket if he does not "leave well alone?"

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Becket get the Priests to unbar the door and allow the Knights to enter?

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

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

4. Who does the Fourth Knight believe truly killed Thomas Becket? What is his proof that this is true?

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

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

7. What story does Becket tell about Christmas Day? Why is it important?

8. Why would Becket say this is his last sermon?

9. What does the First Tempter use to entice Thomas Becket?

10. Why does the Chorus fear the "love of God?"

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose two of the characters from the play excluding Becket. Compare and contrast the following aspects of the characters:

Part 1) Their social standing.

Part 2) Their political views.

Part 3) Their religious beliefs.

Now describe how these traits affect their opinion of Becket and his actions in the play. How are their opinions different? How are they similar?

Essay Topic 2

Becket believes that his death will ultimately bring good to the public, the church, and his own spiritual well-being.

1) Cite several instances in which Becket or another character argue for the choice of martyrdom. Define what Becket's modus operandi is in allowing his own murder

2) Looking at the way his followers reacted to his death, were Becket's goals achieved?

3) Think of another historic figure that you consider a martyr (i.e. Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr.). Compare that person with Becket.

4) For you, what truly defines a martyr? How does the death of one person catalyze social change?

5) Do you believe there are the moral implications to celebrating death in such a way?

Essay Topic 3

The three Priests have been without the Archbishop's leadership for seven years. His return is important to their spiritual well-being.

Part 1) What is the Priests' outlook on Becket's return? What is the opinion of the First Priest? The Second? The Third?

Part 2) Compare the similarities and differences between the individual opinions of the Priests and that of Becket's in regard to his return. What viewpoints do these people represent?

Part 3) Describe how Becket's return was important to these three men and how it reflects the needs of the community of Canterbury as a whole. What is his relationship to this group?

(see the answer keys)

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