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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. How does Aristotle define "Recognition"?
(a) A sudden realization that one is familiar with something.
(b) A change from ignorance to knowledge.
(c) An understanding of something.
(d) A deep knowing.

2. In art, Aristotle defines the medium as what?
(a) A middle state or condition.
(b) The manner in which the art is produced.
(c) The artist's spiritual inspiration.
(d) The average.

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

4. When a poet simply straightforwardly describes the events as they happen, what method does Aristotle say the poet is using?
(a) The method of first person.
(b) The method of third person.
(c) The method of recognition.
(d) The method of imitation.

5. When a poet presents the poem in the voice of one of the characters, what method does Aristotle say that the poet is using?
(a) The method of recognition.
(b) The method of first person.
(c) The method of imitation.
(d) The method of third person.

Short Answer Questions

1. Aristotle says that storytelling with episodic plots is to be favored by whom?

2. How does Aristotle compare the medium of poetry and prose?

3. What does Aristotle consider to be secondary to the most essential element of tragedy?

4. What is one of the requirements Aristotle mentions for a good tragic plot?

5. In what three ways does Aristotle differentiate various art forms from one another?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does Aristotle say about plot in tragedy?

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

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

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

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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