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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Concerning what Aristotle says about the conclusion of a tragedy, which of the following statements is FALSE?
(a) The story can end happily.
(b) The characters can conquer the problem.
(c) The characters always resolve the issues and harmony is restored.
(d) The problem can conquer the characters and the story ends unhappily.

2. Aristotle explains that actions described in a tragic plot should have certain characteristics. Which one of the following is NOT one of the characteristics that Aristotle identifies?
(a) Actions should be not too small or too large.
(b) Actions should be minute and trivial.
(c) Actions should help the reader grasp the significance of the whole.
(d) Actions should be interesting.

3. Aristotle gives the following as an example of what: Homer says that Odysseus accomplished a certain number of deeds?
(a) His imagination.
(b) Deception.
(c) Exaggeration.
(d) A metaphor.

4. In Section III of "Poetics", there are many different uses of what in writing?
(a) Irony.
(b) Mystery.
(c) Words.
(d) Numbers.

5. Aristotle mentions that sometimes poets can confuse the reader with a word's connotation, but the confusion may be due to what?
(a) Blurred vision.
(b) The reader's misunderstanding.
(c) Unusual circumstances.
(d) Poor writing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Aristotle say about the element of surprise in a tragedy?

2. Upon what does Aristotle think the plot of a poem should always be based?

3. 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?

4. Based on Aristotle's teachings, if the main character of a tragedy is totally without fault, his fall would not be due to his own fault, but rather what?

5. When constructing the plot, the poet ought to do what first, according to Aristotle?

(see the answer key)

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