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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 position did Becket resign when he was made Archbishop?

2. Fill in the blank: "I leave you to the pleasure of your __________, Which will have to be paid for at ______________."

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

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

5. What does Becket claim is the "substance of our first act?"

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. In his address to the audience, the Third Knight claims that they are "perfectly disinterested." What does he mean?

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

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

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

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

9. What does Becket mean when he states to the Priests, "The moment foreseen may be unexpected when it arrives?"

10. Looking at the Interlude, how was the Fourth Tempter successful? How was he unsuccessful in his aims?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

The Chorus serves as a sort of guide and narrator throughout the play.

Part 1) Why does Eliot make the Chorus a group of women? How does this create a different dramatic effect from a male chorus?

Part 2) Describe which social group the Chorus represents and why that is important to its purpose in the plot.

Part 3) What is the Chorus' relationship to Becket and why is that important to their relationship to the audience (the reader)? Is the Chorus a surrogate for us?

(see the answer keys)

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