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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section III.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When an evil character of a tragic story is suddenly thrust into misfortune, it has been said that this satisfies the moral sense of the audience, but Aristotle asserts that the misfortune does not inspire what?
(a) Anger.
(b) Pity.
(c) Joy.
(d) Fear.

2. When does Aristotle feel that deviation from reality is justified?
(a) When history alone is not interesting enough.
(b) When a story needs poetic charm.
(c) When the poem lacks rhythm.
(d) When there is good reason for the deviation.

3. Aristotle states that poetry depicts what?
(a) Things that happen based on fact and fiction.
(b) History.
(c) Things that happen according to the "laws of probability and necessity."
(d) The future.

4. Aristotle explains that the complication accomplishes what?
(a) It draws the reader in with the suspense of how the problem will be resolved, if it ever is.
(b) It gives the reader a sense of resolution.
(c) It ties the beginning to the end.
(d) It evokes pity.

5. What reason does Aristotle give for Homer excluding many things that Odysseus does on his voyage home in the "Odyssey"?
(a) Aristotle explains that Homer prefers to keep the reader guessing.
(b) Aristotle says that Odysseus does some embarrassing things that are better left unsaid.
(c) Aristotle says that Homer excludes things because they do not relate well to the overall plot that is being constructed.
(d) Nothing is excluded.

Short Answer Questions

1. In Section III of "Poetics", there are many different uses of what in writing?

2. When a poet presents the poem in the voice of one of the characters, what method does Aristotle say that the poet is using?

3. Aristotle warns that a tragedy poet should be careful with what?

4. When can a poet depicting men and their actions inaccurately be acceptable to Aristotle?

5. What are the ways Aristotle explains in regard to how poets differ in their representation of the object?

(see the answer key)

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