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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. Who is Apollodorus talking with at the beginning of Symposium?

2. Whose thoughts inspire the guests to speak about love at the party?

3. Where does Phaedrus think that Achilles was sent after his death?

4. What three elements share a harmonious love in nature, as stated by Eryximachus?

5. What are the doors like when Aristodemus reaches Agathon's house?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Eryximachus explains, what is the role of a doctor in healing a patient?

2. What is the difference in the loves that Pausanias describes?

3. How is music used by Eryximachus as a metaphor for love?

4. Why is Aristophanes unable to speak after Pausanias as scheduled?

5. What approach does Eryximachus take when speaking about love and how does it differ from the previous speeches?

6. What is the purpose of love, according to Eryximachus?

7. What might be seen as controversial about Pausanias' speech?

8. How is the subject of the speeches at the Symposium decided?

9. How is the story of the Symposium introduced and who is responsible for telling it?

10. What musical example does Eryximachus use to explain the difference between good and bad relationships?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast the different speeches given at the Symposium.

1) Analyze the similarities between Socrates' speech and Eryximachus' speech as well as what the main difference was between the two.

2) Explain which speeches had the most differences and why.

3) Describe the speech or speeches that you think made the most sense and/or contained the most important information.

Essay Topic 2

Before Socrates starts giving his speech on love, he takes the time to make some observations about the other speeches and preface his own.

1) Analyze Socrates' opinions of the other speeches in general, including the compliments he has for them, along with the way he dismisses them.

2) Describe Socrates' comments about Agathon's speech.

3) Explain the irony in Socrates' assumption that the speeches should contain the truth and the way that he prepares the guests for his speech.

4) Describe why Socrates is compelled to speak the truth as he understands it, his lack of concern for who it might offend, and how that adds to his reputation.

Essay Topic 3

Diotima teaches Socrates about love and Socrates relates what he has learned to the guests at the Symposium.

1) Describe the definition of love that Socrates begins his speech with, as well as how he reached his opinion.

2) Discuss what Socrates thinks the characteristics of love are, along with why and how they contradict Agathon's speech.

3) Explain the reasons why Socrates believes that love is a spirit.

(see the answer keys)

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