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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. As Aristotle explains, when an evil main character of a tragic story experiences misfortune, why doesn't this inspire certain key emotions in the audience?

2. When an evil character of a tragic story is suddenly thrust into misfortune, it has been said that this satisfies the moral sense of the audience, but Aristotle asserts that the misfortune does not inspire what?

3. In a good tragedy as defined by Aristotle, why wouldn't you see two evil men fighting and killing one another?

4. How does Aristotle characterize tragedies with happy endings?

5. Aristotle explains that tragedies should have what that other poems do not?

Short Essay Questions

1. What types of situations does Aristotle say occur frequently in tragedy and why?

2. Give an example that Aristotle provides in "Poetics" of a failed action where the character of a tragic story was aware of the circumstances then failed to follow through.

3. Why does Aristotle consider a failed action in a tragedy where the character was aware of the circumstances then failed to follow through to be a poor development in the plot?

4. In order for a plot to be truly effective in achieving the desired emotional responses, Aristotle explains that the actions portrayed in it must be of a certain character. Explain.

5. What does Aristotle identify as the goal of tragedy?

6. Based on Aristotle's reasoning, what type of main character should a poet choose and why?

7. Does Aristotle believe that Homer's "Iliad" should be written in the format of a tragedy? Why or why not?

8. While some tragedies may use impressive visual effects when performed on stage to impress their spectators, what type of tragedy according to Aristotle does not require such spectacles and why?

9. What type of recognition is considered by Aristotle to be superior to the others and why?

10. In addition to recognition through sign, what are some other ways that Aristotle identifies as ways in which recognition can occur?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The goal of tragedy, as explained by Aristotle, is to construct a plot that successfully inspires what in the spectator or reader? How should the actions depicted in the plot be chosen? How can the poet effectively inspire certain emotions to a great scale?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the three options to write about:

1) Explain why men are drawn to write poetry based on Aristotle's "Poetics".

2) Explain how different types of poetry emerged based on Aristotle's "Poetics".

3) Compare comedy, tragedy, and epic poetry through the teachings of Aristotle.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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