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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. In what three ways does Aristotle differentiate various art forms from one another?
(a) By the medium, objects, and manner of imitation.
(b) Era, objects, and manner of imitation.
(c) According to the artist, era, and artistic effort.
(d) Manner of imitation, artist, and era.

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

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

4. What does Aristotle call the individual episodes of a story with an episodic plot?
(a) Dependent stories.
(b) Isolated stories.
(c) Funny.
(d) Interesting.

5. What are the ways Aristotle explains in regard to how poets differ in their representation of the object?
(a) Poets can portray the object as better or worse, but never the same as they are.
(b) Poets can portray the objects as worse or the same as they are.
(c) Poets can portray the objects as worse, better, or the same as they are
(d) There is no difference in the way poets portray the objects.

Short Answer Questions

1. Aristotle says that at most, episodic plots involve what?

2. What does Aristotle identify as the most essential element of tragedy?

3. Aristotle defines poetic work as what?

4. How does Aristotle differentiate poetry from prose?

5. A character attempting to save his friend but accidentally killing him instead is an example Aristotle gives for what?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Aristotle consider poetic work to be a philosophical undertaking, and, therefore, a higher pursuit than history, which is concerned simply with facts?

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

4. How does Aristotle classify or divide actions? Explain.

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

6. What does Aristotle say the goal of tragedy is and how does he say good poetry accomplish this goal?

7. Aristotle explains that the object which poetry portrays is men in action. How may poets differ in how they represent these men?

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

9. According to Aristotle, different types of poetry emerge from the personalities of different types of men. What are two examples Aristotle gives in relationship to personality of men and types of poetry?

10. Based on Section I of Aristotle's "Poetics", how is the medium specific to poetry similar to and different from prose?

(see the answer keys)

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