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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In order for a plot to be truly effective in achieving the desired emotional response from its readers or audience, Aristotle says that the poet must do what?
(a) Pick characters that the audience can easily pity.
(b) Infuse irony throughout the story.
(c) Write a tragedy with a sad ending.
(d) Pick characters whose relationships to one another make the actions of the plot more interesting.

2. In art, Aristotle defines the medium as what?
(a) The artist's spiritual inspiration.
(b) The average.
(c) The manner in which the art is produced.
(d) A middle state or condition.

3. Per Aristotle, in which of the following ways does poetry NOT differ from history?
(a) History is concerned simply with facts.
(b) Poetry tells the future, and history tells the past.
(c) Poetry depicts what happens according to the "laws of probability and necessity."
(d) Poetry is a higher pursuit than history.

4. Concerning the "laws of probability and necessity," what statement below is NOT correct according to Aristotle's teachings in "Poetics"?
(a) The poet implies his notion of justice.
(b) The poet implies his understanding of how the world works.
(c) The poet portrays what events could possibly happen in the world.
(d) The poet implies his vision of how the world should be.

5. What does Aristotle identify as the foundation of good poetry writing?
(a) Irony.
(b) Using well-researched historical events.
(c) An interesting twist or turn.
(d) Probability and necessity.

6. Aristotle says what type of poetry imitates the "lower" types of men?
(a) Greek poetry.
(b) Tragedy.
(c) Roman poetry.
(d) Comedy.

7. The plot, as Aristotle explains, should be unified in such a way that each part should be what?
(a) Equivalent.
(b) Necessary to other parts, but not to the whole.
(c) Trivial.
(d) Necessary to the whole.

8. What does Aristotle consider to be secondary to the most essential element of tragedy?
(a) Development of imitation.
(b) Development of character.
(c) Development of rhyme.
(d) Development of irony.

9. When one character realizes that another character has fewer morals than he once thought, what does Aristotle say is happening?
(a) Bad judgment.
(b) Growth.
(c) Opportunity.
(d) Recognition.

10. How does Aristotle define "Recognition"?
(a) An understanding of something.
(b) A sudden realization that one is familiar with something.
(c) A change from ignorance to knowledge.
(d) A deep knowing.

11. What type of action does Aristotle say occurs with "Recognition" and/or "Reversal of Situation"?
(a) Bad.
(b) Congruent.
(c) Happy.
(d) Complex.

12. In poetry, Aristotle says that in the "Odyssey" recognition comes about how??
(a) None of the answers is correct..
(b) Odyssues's nurse recognizes him from his scar.
(c) The suitors recognize him by his face.
(d) Penelope recognizes his walk.

13. What men does Aristotle consider to be "lower" types?
(a) Men who are poor and unhealthy.
(b) Single men.
(c) Unemployed men.
(d) Men who are defective in some way, but not altogether evil or malicious towards others.

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

15. Into what two types does Aristotle divide actions?
(a) Good and bad.
(b) Congruent and incongruent.
(c) Simple and complex.
(d) Happy and sad.

Short Answer Questions

1. Aristotle explains that tragedy is not only concerned with the depiction of just any action, but of actions that inspire what?

2. Aristotle asserts that men who find poetry very attractive find great pleasure in what?

3. What type of story does Aristotle define as "episodic"?

4. What type of action does Aristotle say occurs without "Recognition" or "Reversal of Situation"?

5. What, as Aristotle states, are good poets forced to do when they write stories with episodic plots?

(see the answer keys)

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