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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. Who composed the Odyssey?

2. Amymone was pursued by a ________ but saved by Poseidon.

3. What happened to Antigone when she ignored Creon's edict and buried her brother?

4. Pomona was a nymph of orchards who was loved by whom?

5. Odysseus and his men faced man eating monsters and strange magic, losing how many ships on their journey?

Short Essay Questions

1. Summarize two stories found in this section. How do they explain the qualities of a hero?

2. How is Aeneas' story unique?

3. Of these two families, which deserved their bad luck the least? Why?

4. How does the story of Procne, Philomela, and Tereus explain the origins of species?

5. How is Aeneas like both Jason and Odysseus?

6. What are the Danaids known for doing? Why might they have done this?

7. How is Aeneas tied to the great Roman Republic?

8. How is Odysseus set apart from other heroes? What does this say about the Greeks at this time?

9. How did visiting the underworld mark Aeneas as a special hero? What does this say about the Greek's view of the afterlife?

10. What are two important lessons taught in the Odyssey?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author states that Greek mythology should not be seen as a Bible of religious belief.

Part 1) What is meant by this statement? How should Greek mythology be viewed? Why should it not be understood as a Bible of religious belief? How might this affect one's belief in the Greek gods? How does this affect the power of these gods?

Part 2) How did this give freedom to various Greek writers and thinkers throughout history? How did these writers and thinkers influence Greek mythology? Why did they influence it in this way?

Part 3) Would a religion such as what is known as Greek mythology flourish today? Why or why not? What is necessary for a religion to be successful today? How does this reflect mankind today? What does it also reveal about the ancient Greeks?

Essay Topic 2

According to the Greeks, in the beginning their was only chaos.

Part 1) Describe the main stories of creation and the birth of man, according to Greek mythology. How do these stories compare to each other? What might be the reasons for differences between these stories?

Part 2) How do these stories compare to the creation stories found in world religions today? What might be the reason for any similarities? Are you surprised by these similarities? Why or why not?

Part 3) What are your beliefs regarding the creation of the universe and the birth of man? From where do your beliefs come? How has your culture influenced your beliefs regarding creation? How important is one's culture to one's beliefs? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

The Trojan War lasted for many years.

Part 1) What was the cause of the Trojan War? What took place during the Trojan War? How were the Greeks and the Trojans affected by this war? How did the requirements of a hero also change because of this war?

Part 2) What ended the Trojan War? How were both the Greeks and Trojans affected by this event? What does this event say about the Greeks? What does it also say about the Trojans?

Part 3) Describe a war that has taken place since the United States has been a country. Why did it begin? What took place during this war? How long did it last? Why? How did it end? How did this war affect those involved? How are the effects of this war still seen today?

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