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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) Probability and necessity.
(b) Using well-researched historical events.
(c) An interesting twist or turn.
(d) Irony.

2. What type of situation does Aristotle explain occurs more frequently in tragedy?
(a) The protagonist losing one of his or her five senses.
(b) A child being abandoned.
(c) A member of a family killing another member.
(d) The main character dying from illness.

3. What two things does Aristotle require to be present in a well-written story?
(a) Conflict and pain.
(b) Rhythm and harmony.
(c) Birth and death.
(d) Irony and foreshadowing.

4. According to Aristotle, why do good poets sometimes write stories using episodic plots?
(a) For the challenge.
(b) They never write stories using episodic plots.
(c) To showcase their skills in contests.
(d) Because episodic plots are considered more interesting.

5. In poetry, what is the term that Aristotle gives for an action that aims to accomplish a certain goal, but actually accomplishes the opposite?
(a) Tragedy.
(b) Reversal of Situation.
(c) Irony.
(d) Failure.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In poetry, Aristotle says that in the "Odyssey" recognition comes about how??

3. The object poetry portrays is what, according to Aristotle?

4. What is history according to Aristotle?

5. What, as Aristotle states, are good poets forced to do when they write stories with episodic plots?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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