View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the chorus define its time in Canterbury since the Archbishop left seven years previous?

2. What position did Becket resign when he was made Archbishop?

3. How does the Third Tempter describe himself?

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

5. What does the First Priest believe was Becket's character flaw that ultimately brought an end to his friendship with the King?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Becket fear that giving into the Fourth Tempter would be doing "the right deed for the wrong reason?"

3. According to Becket, how do we define peace?

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

5. What is the part of King Henry II in the play and what is his relationship with Becket?

6. Why do the Priests continually attempt to save Becket from the Knights even after orders from him to allow fate to take its course?

7. What does Becket see as being ironic about the peace God offered?

8. How do the Knights taunt Becket upon their entrance into the Cathedral?

9. According to Becket, what did God mean when he told his disciples "My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you."

10. What is the Interlude?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Look at one of T.S. Eliot's most famous poems, The Hollow Men ( Found online at http://poetry.poetryx.com/poems/784/). Read it several times. Now search through Murder in the Cathedral and choose one of the Chorus' speeches. Compare and contrast Eliot's writing style, elements and themes in his works. What are some of the poetic tools Eliot repeats in his monologues? How are the rhythms the same? How are they different?

Essay Topic 3

There are many references to "The wheel" in Murder in the Cathedral. Much lore from Ancient Greece and the Middle ages reference the wheel when speaking of a wheel turning as a metaphor of man's fate, fortune and predestination.

1) What part does Becket believe Fate and Destiny play in the final days of his life?

2) How much of this is God's work according to Becket? What are Becket's feeling towards God's actions?

3) What do you believe? It is fate or chance that helped play out Becket's final days as illustrated in Murder in the Cathedral? Feel free to use examples from your own encounters with what you believe to be fate.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,019 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample