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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When a poet simply straightforwardly describes the events as they happen, what method does Aristotle say the poet is using?
(a) The method of imitation.
(b) The method of third person.
(c) The method of first person.
(d) The method of recognition.

2. Aristotle explains that the medium specific to poetry is one that uses what?
(a) Language alone.
(b) Words and pictures.
(c) Pictures.
(d) Rhyme.

3. What type of poetry does Aristotle say focuses on serious and important actions?
(a) None of the answers is correct.
(b) Greek poetry.
(c) Tragedy.
(d) Roman poetry.

4. Like any art, poetry is defined by Aristotle as what?
(a) A rhyme with more than four sentences.
(b) A kind of imitation.
(c) A funny story.
(d) A theatrical play.

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

6. According to Aristotle, how should the plot of a well-written tragedy be structured?
(a) With the end that makes readers want more.
(b) A structured plot makes bad poetry.
(c) With a logical beginning and end.
(d) It should leave the reader guessing until the end.

7. 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 is a higher pursuit than history.
(d) Poetry depicts what happens according to the "laws of probability and necessity."

8. In an episodic plot, Aristotle explains that the individual episodes of the story bear what to one another?
(a) Irony.
(b) A lot of similarity.
(c) Opposition.
(d) Little or no relation to one another.

9. How does Aristotle differentiate poetry from prose?
(a) They are the same.
(b) Poetry uses rhythm in the form of meter.
(c) Prose uses pictures and music.
(d) Poetry uses language alone.

10. What type of story does Aristotle define as "episodic"?
(a) A dramatic story.
(b) A great story.
(c) A sad story.
(d) A particularly poor story.

11. Aristotle defines poetic work as what?
(a) A philosophical undertaking.
(b) A love affair.
(c) A bad imitation.
(d) A spiritual journey.

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

13. In the context of poetry, Aristotle explains that rhythm is used in the form of a what?
(a) Meter.
(b) Mysterious undertone.
(c) Harmony.
(d) Specific beat.

14. In poetry, Aristotle explains that the "Recognition" is almost always what?
(a) The end of the poem.
(b) A surprise.
(c) A tragedy.
(d) Between two characters.

15. 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) Write a tragedy with a sad ending.
(b) Infuse irony throughout the story.
(c) Pick characters whose relationships to one another make the actions of the plot more interesting.
(d) Pick characters that the audience can easily pity.

Short Answer Questions

1. When the poet takes the appropriate steps in developing plot, Aristotle explains that the poet is much more likely to do what?

2. What is history according to Aristotle?

3. What reason does Aristotle give for Homer excluding many things that Odysseus does on his voyage home in the "Odyssey"?

4. When one character realizes that another character has fewer morals than he once thought, what does Aristotle say is happening?

5. What type of action does Aristotle say occurs with "Recognition" and/or "Reversal of Situation"?

(see the answer keys)

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