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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 does Aristotle identify as the foundation of good poetry writing?
(a) Irony.
(b) Probability and necessity.
(c) Using well-researched historical events.
(d) An interesting twist or turn.

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

3. Aristotle explains that the medium specific to poetry is one that uses what?
(a) Words and pictures.
(b) Language alone.
(c) Rhyme.
(d) Pictures.

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

5. What does Aristotle consider to be secondary to the most essential element of tragedy?
(a) Development of irony.
(b) Development of rhyme.
(c) Development of imitation.
(d) Development of character.

Short Answer Questions

1. Per Aristotle, in which of the following ways does poetry NOT differ from history?

2. What two things does Aristotle require to be present in a well-written story?

3. Aristotle believes that a poet can turn a complex plot into a simple one by doing what?

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

5. Aristotle asserts that men who find poetry very attractive find great pleasure in what?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What does Aristotle say about plot in tragedy?

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

6. Is the unity of plot the same as the unity of a character's actions? Explain.

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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