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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. Aristotle asserts that men who find poetry very attractive find great pleasure in what?
(a) Cleaning.
(b) Learning.
(c) Eating.
(d) Sleeping.

2. 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 recognition.
(d) The method of first person.

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

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

5. Concerning the "laws of probability and necessity," what statement below is NOT correct according to Aristotle's teachings in "Poetics"?
(a) The poet implies his vision of how the world should be.
(b) The poet implies his understanding of how the world works.
(c) The poet implies his notion of justice.
(d) The poet portrays what events could possibly happen in the world.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Aristotle say about the element of surprise in a tragedy?

2. 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?

3. In art, Aristotle defines the medium as what?

4. What men does Aristotle consider to be "lower" types?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

4. How does Aristotle differentiate the arts from one another?

5. Whom does Aristotle say favors episodic, as opposed to epic, storytelling and why?

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

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

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

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

10. What does Aristotle say about plot in tragedy?

(see the answer keys)

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