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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. What does Aristotle call the individual episodes of a story with an episodic plot?

2. In the context of poetry and according to Aristotle's teachings, why is man naturally attracted to imitation?

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

4. Aristotle states that poetry depicts what?

5. The plot, as Aristotle explains, should be unified in such a way that each part should be what?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. 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?

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to Aristotle, plot is the most essential element of tragedy; it is the sole element without which a tragedy could not exist. The development of character, though important, is secondary to the development of plot.

Part 1) Explain why the development of character is secondary to the development of plot.

Part 2) Through Aristotle's perspective, how should the plot of a well-written tragedy be structured?

Essay Topic 2

When constructing the plot, Aristotle says that the poet ought to do what first and why? When should the poet begin to fill out the individual episodes and scenes of the story? Why is it important to construct the plot in this way?

Essay Topic 3

Based on Aristotle's teachings, with what type of actions does tragedy concern itself? How does tragedy accomplish its goals of inspiring certain emotions in the audience? What is the foundation of good poetry writing according to Aristotle?

(see the answer keys)

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