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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. How does Socrates appear when he meets Aristodemus before going to the party?

2. What was Eryximachus' ancestor, Asclepius, an expert in?

3. What is the order of the three things in Hesiod's theory, as referenced by Phaedrus?

4. Which one of the following is not an example that Eryximachus uses to describe the hostile elements?

5. What causes the "man-woman" creatures in Aristophanes' story to become adulterers?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Socrates first appear when he is introduced in the Symposium?

2. How does Phaedrus use Alcestis' story as an example in his speech?

3. What advice does Eryximachus have for Aristophanes before he starts speaking?

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

5. Who are the parents of love, according to Pausanias?

6. How does Phaedrum describe love at the beginning of his speech?

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

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

9. How does Orpheus become an example used by Phaedrus to depict what not to do?

10. Why do Socrates and Agathon argue after Aristophanes' speech?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The main function and purpose of love is explained by Socrates at the end of his speech.

1) Analyze Socrates' theory on love's main purpose and the way he thinks that it can lead humans to immortality.

2) Describe the practice of higher learning that Diotima taught Socrates, how a person can become a philosopher, and the important realization they need to make along the way.

3) Explain Socrates' ideas about pregnancy and the way people are remembered, including the examples that he provides.

4) Describe the "hypothesis of the higher hypothesis" by Socrates and the way it relates to the true power of love.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the questions that Socrates asks Agathon at the beginning of his speech. Include the point of the questions, the logic that Socrates uses, Agathon's responses, and Socrates' purpose for asking them.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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