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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is one of the requirements Aristotle mentions for a good tragic plot?
(a) A good plot must be tragic in the beginning, middle, and end.
(b) A good plot must be mysterious.
(c) A good plot must have disconnected episodes that tie together at the end.
(d) A good plot must be unified.

2. Aristotle says that at most, episodic plots involve what?
(a) Sad middle and happy ending.
(b) The same characters.
(c) Disconnected foreshadowing.
(d) Strange irony.

3. According to Aristotle, why do good poets sometimes write stories using episodic plots?
(a) To showcase their skills in contests.
(b) For the challenge.
(c) Because episodic plots are considered more interesting.
(d) They never write stories using episodic plots.

4. What is history according to Aristotle?
(a) Concerned simply with facts.
(b) Rumors promoted as truth.
(c) Accounts that may or may not have happened.
(d) Lies.

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

6. Aristotle says that storytelling with episodic plots is to be favored by whom?
(a) No one.
(b) Poor poets.
(c) Homer.
(d) Aristotle.

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

8. What does Aristotle say about the element of surprise in a tragedy?
(a) It helps inspire sadness.
(b) It helps inspire joy.
(c) It keeps the reader guessing and interested.
(d) It helps inspire pity.

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

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

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

12. What two things does Aristotle require to be present in a well-written story?
(a) Conflict and pain.
(b) Rhythm and harmony.
(c) Irony and foreshadowing.
(d) Birth and death.

13. What does Aristotle identify as the most essential element of tragedy?
(a) Character.
(b) Rhyme.
(c) Irony.
(d) Plot.

14. According to Aristotle, how does tragedy achieve the emotion it inspires?
(a) Deceit.
(b) Using the element of surprise.
(c) Contradiction.
(d) Irony.

15. Per Aristotle, the unity of plot is what to the unity of a character's actions?
(a) Not equivalent, but often closely related.
(b) Equivalent.
(c) Irrelevant.
(d) Influential, but not important.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of poetry does Aristotle say focuses on serious and important actions?

2. In poetry, what is the term that Aristotle gives for an action that aims to accomplish a certain goal, but actually accomplishes the opposite?

3. In poetry, Aristotle explains that the "Recognition" is almost always what?

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

5. Aristotle defines poetic work as what?

(see the answer keys)

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