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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. When the poet takes the appropriate steps in developing plot, Aristotle explains that the poet is much more likely to do what?

2. What does Aristotle say about the element of surprise in a tragedy?

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

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

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?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

What reasons does Aristotle give regarding why the poet must be sensitive to the nature of language? Into what parts can language be subdivided? What are some ways suggested by Aristotle that a poet could effectively create a rhythmic and pleasant-sounding poem that has a meter that is appropriate to the type of poem he is creating as well as to the subject matter?

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