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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Aristotle consider to be the most tragic event?
(a) Adultery.
(b) A mother abandoning her child.
(c) A member of a family killing another.
(d) Two lovers splitting up.

2. Based on Aristotle's "Poetics", great tragedy poets always choose characters that belong to what?
(a) Universities.
(b) Wealthy and prominent families.
(c) Various churches.
(d) Small social groups.

3. Why does Aristotle say that Homer's "Iliad" is not a tragedy?
(a) It is a happy story.
(b) It lacks irony.
(c) It has too many episodes and sub-stories to fit the format.
(d) The reader feels no pity.

4. According to Aristotle, what type of poets attempt to create tragedies that result in everyone ultimately being happy?
(a) Poets more concerned with pleasing their audience.
(b) Optimistic poets.
(c) Innovative poets.
(d) Poets more interested in winning an award.

5. How does Aristotle characterize tragedies with happy endings?
(a) He says they are Greek poetry.
(b) He says they are Roman poetry.
(c) He calls them comedies.
(d) He calls them great tragedies.

6. Why does Aristotle believe that a failed action by a character that is unaware is more effective than a failed action by a character that is aware?
(a) They are equally ineffective.
(b) The second situation inspires more fear, but less pity.
(c) The morals of the character that is unaware remain intact, and the first situation inspires more fear.
(d) They are equally effective.

7. Aristotle asserts that the main character of a tragedy must have what?
(a) Weakness.
(b) Complete confidence.
(c) A tragic past.
(d) A lot of money.

8. When constructing the plot, the poet ought to do what first, according to Aristotle?
(a) Develop the ending of the story.
(b) Develop the beginning of the story.
(c) Outline the plot in totality.
(d) Fill out the individual episodes and scenes.

9. In depicting his main character, Aristotle says that the poet should always accomplish four things. Of the following, which is NOT one of these four things?
(a) The poet should make the main character perfect.
(b) The poet should make the main character good.
(c) The main character should be portrayed consistently.
(d) The goodness of the character should be appropriate.

10. In a tragic story, a mother who is about to kill her son--and she is aware that it is her son--does not carry out the action. Aristotle uses this as an example of what?
(a) The least impressive type of action.
(b) Recognition.
(c) Reversal of Situation.
(d) Reconsideration.

11. As Aristotle explains, when an evil main character of a tragic story experiences misfortune, why doesn't this inspire certain key emotions in the audience?
(a) People fear similar misfortune.
(b) People do not enjoy watching another suffer.
(c) The man will be perceived as receiving what he deserved.
(d) Often, people get angry when another gets hurt.

12. What is the third type of recognition as identified by Aristotle?
(a) One that occurs through divine intervention.
(b) One that occurs through the awakening of some memory or latent emotion.
(c) One that occurs from a bad dream.
(d) One that occurs from a good dream.

13. Aristotle explains that tragedies should have what that other poems do not?
(a) Death.
(b) More irony.
(c) More sadness.
(d) A much more limited scale.

14. According to Aristotle, what happens in a legitimate tragedy?
(a) The antagonist dies.
(b) The main character dies.
(c) Not everyone winds up happy.
(d) Everyone wins at the end.

15. Artistically, what type of recognition does Aristotle consider to be a serious flaw?
(a) Recognition that occurs suddenly.
(b) Recognition through divine intervention.
(c) Recognition that is not connected with the flow of the plot.
(d) A recurring recognition.

Short Answer Questions

1. Aristotle explains that the complication accomplishes what?

2. What does Aristotle say that a well-crafted tragedy has?

3. According to Aristotle, a great plot consists of an action that almost occurs, but doesn't because of what?

4. As Aristotle explains, why must a poet be sensitive to the nature of language?

5. In a good tragedy as defined by Aristotle, why wouldn't you see two evil men fighting and killing one another?

(see the answer keys)

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