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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 Socrates think about the speeches he has just heard?

2. In the example Socrates provides, what city's laws are "fathered" by Solon?

3. According to Alcibiades, what are Socrates' claims that he knows nothing?

4. How does Diotima think a young person should interact with beautiful minds?

5. In what military campaign do Socrates and Alcibiades participate?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Agathon describe love?

2. What is Alcibiades' condition when he interrupts the party, and what does he encourage the other guests to do?

3. How does Agathon disagree with Phaedrus in the beginning of his speech and why?

4. In Socrates' opinion, what does a person's achievements have to do with love, and which example does he use?

5. What accusation does Alcibiades make against Socrates and why?

6. According to Socrates, what is the origin of love?

7. Who is Diotima and what is significant about the experience Socrates had with her?

8. What examples does Socrates provide of what men can leave behind?

9. What is the definition that Socrates gives of love?

10. What is the purpose of the questions that Socrates asks Agathon at the beginning of his speech and on what point do they agree?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Eryximachus' speech features a departure in the approach of the topic, love.

1) Describe how Eryximachus takes Aristophanes' place in the order of speeches and why.

2) Explain Erystimachus' scientific approach to love, including the role it has in medicine and health.

3) Analyze the major differences in the speeches that took place before Eryximachus' speech and the one that he delivers.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the way Plato decides to tell the story of the Symposium. Include the effects of having a story delivered from a second-hand account, why Apollodorus is qualified to recount the events of the party, and how he has been able to confirm the information that Aristodemus provided. Also, explain whether Plato's own opinions of Socrates influence the way the story is presented.

Essay Topic 3

Apollodorus introduces an interesting notion about the way philosophers and rich people view each other.

1) Describe Apollodorus' general opinion of people and how he got his nickname.

2) Explain why he pities rich men and the reasons why he thinks they also pity him.

3) Analyze how the story might be affected be being told by someone with Apollodorus' views on life.

(see the answer keys)

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