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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 took a nymph from the stream of Illissus?

2. What choice in relationships does Socrates say would benefit society?

3. Who is Eros's mother?

4. What does Socrates say love is deprived of at the end of his speech?

5. What does Socrates say guides desire?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Socrates say love affects the physical well being of those in a relationship, and why?

2. What does Socrates say about the nature of the soul?

3. What does Socrates say souls are striving for, and why?

4. What does Socrates compare most loving relationships to?

5. What does Lysias say is the main disadvantage of a relationship between lovers?

6. What kind of things does Lysias say should be absent in a prudent relationship?

7. What does Socrates say a man must love to come close to the gods, and why?

8. How does Socrates begin his speech to Phaedras?

9. What is Eros, and what are its effects?

10. What are Socrates and Phaedras doing at the beginning of the book, and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What role does symbolism play in the story and where does it appear? How is the plot altered by the presence of these symbols?

Essay Topic 2

What are Phaedrus's ideas about persuasion, and how does Socrates respond to them?

Essay Topic 3

Plato presents his morals and ideas in the form of a conversational setting. Why does he choose to do this, and how does this affect his message?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 577 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample