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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What, as Aristotle states, are good poets forced to do when they write stories with episodic plots?
(a) To write better.
(b) To shorten their stories.
(c) To lengthen their stories.
(d) To write poorly.

2. Aristotle teaches that the beginning of a well-written tragedy starts at what point?
(a) Where the narrative has dependence upon events that happen prior to it.
(b) With the end and uses the method of flashback to tell the rest.
(c) In the middle and uses the method of flashback to tell what preceded.
(d) Where the narrative has no dependence upon events that happened prior to it.

3. The object poetry portrays is what, according to Aristotle?
(a) Other poets.
(b) Tragic events.
(c) Various places around the world.
(d) Men in action.

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

5. How does Aristotle compare the medium of poetry and prose?
(a) It is nothing like prose.
(b) Both use the same medium.
(c) Both use the same medium and meter.
(d) Both use the same medium and rhythm.

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

3. When a poet presents the poem in the voice of one of the characters, what method does Aristotle say that the poet is using?

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

5. According to Aristotle, how does tragedy achieve the emotion it inspires?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Aristotle say about the the beginning and end of a tragic plot?

2. How does Aristotle define comedy as a type of poetry?

3. How does Aristotle say that poetry differs from history?

4. What does Aristotle say about the actions described in a tragic plot?

5. What are two reasons Aristotle says that men are drawn to write poetry?

6. How does Aristotle define tragedy as a type of poetry?

7. According to Aristotle, what is an example of a poor type of story and why?

8. Based on Aristotle's teachings, what does it mean when a plot is unified?

9. According to Aristotle, how does the method of imitation differ?

10. Aristotle points out that good poets may also write episodic stories. What reason does he give?

(see the answer keys)

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