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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What type of action does Aristotle say occurs without "Recognition" or "Reversal of Situation"?

3. When a poet simply straightforwardly describes the events as they happen, what method does Aristotle say the poet is using?

4. Aristotle explains that tragedy is not only concerned with the depiction of just any action, but of actions that inspire what?

5. What type of poetry does Aristotle say focuses on serious and important actions?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

7. 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?

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Based on Aristotle's "Poetics", how does poetry differ from history according to Aristotle? Why is poetry considered a higher pursuit than history to Aristotle? How does Aristotle define the "laws of probability and necessity"?

Essay Topic 2

Aristotle teaches through "Poetics" that poets may use words metaphorically, and he explains that this is done in many ways.

1) Explain various ways in which a character uses words metaphorically.

2) Differentiate between various forms of metaphors.

3) Provide examples of how Aristotle says Homer's "Iliad" uses metaphors.

Essay Topic 3

Choose one of the following to write about:

1) Compare the habits of good poets and bad poets according to Aristotle. Discuss their styles and motivations as discussed in "Poetics".

2) Based on "Poetics", discuss the elements or characteristics possessed by a superior tragedy.

3) What guidelines does Aristotle provide in regard to a poet choosing characters?

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