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. According to Plutarch, why was the issue still alive for Tiberius in spite of previous efforts to address the issue?

2. What did Plutarch claim to be the main issue facing Tiberius after he was elected tribune of the people?

3. What did Plutarch identify as the primary difference between "The Roman Brothers" and "The Spartans"?

4. Why does Plutarch claim that Cicero's leading the execution of conspirators to overthrow Rome was controversial?

5. How did Tiberius finally push his land reform law through the Senate, according to Plutarch?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Plutarch show the differences in the personalities between Demosthenes and Cicero through their rhetorical style?

2. How did Antony inspire a revolt against the assassins of Caesar, according to Plutarch?

3. Why does Plutarch suggest Caesar showed favor to Brutus despite Brutus siding with Pompey during the civil war with Caesar?

4. How did Plutarch report that Demetrius fell in and out of favor with Athenians?

5. How does Plutarch claim that Demosthenes become the best orator of his time?

6. What important position does Plutarch report Atarus took with Achaea, a league of Greek cities?

7. What does Plutarch report to be the condition of Rome as Tiberius began his political career in Rome?

8. Why does Plutarch claim that Dion was banished from the court of young Dionysius?

9. What does Plutarch consider to be the difference in the deaths of the Gracci and the Spartans?

10. How did Plutarch describe the defeat of Brutus after the death of Caesar?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Plutarch's biography of Sertorius established a pattern of examining the life of a leader whose live and experiences were intertwined with other lives that were covered by Plutarch. Sertorius directly confronted Pompey in Spain and both were affected by the Roman tyrant Sylla. How were both Sertorius and Pompey affected by Sylla, and how did the different relationships with Sylla influence the confrontation they had with each other?

Essay Topic 2

Dion was a Greek who studied Plato's philosophy against tyranny. Even though he earned the favor of tyrannical King Dionysius I, he fell out of favor with the supporters of his son, Donysius II. Explain what philosophies that Dion was sharing with Dionysius II and why his supporters would want to end Dion's influence.

Essay Topic 3

Plutarch was born a Greek, and as an adult became a Roman Citizen. He wrote during the First Century, A.D., while the Roman Empire was still in its ascendancy. Give details of how Plutarch's background and citizenship influenced his choice of historical figures for which to write biographies, the events he chose to cover, and how he characterized the cities and citizens that were affected by these figures.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 996 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample