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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 Alcibiades assure Socrates of before he begins speaking?

2. According to Diotima's explanation, what will beasts die to protect?

3. According to Agathon, who can love capture?

4. According to Alcibiades, what type of music are Socrates' speeches comparable to?

5. How does Diotima define a spirit?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Socrates' opinion of the speeches he has heard?

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

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

4. Why does Socrates think that love is a spirit?

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

6. How does Diotima help Socrates understand how a person can become a philosopher through love?

7. According to Alcibiades, what effect did Socrates have on him?

8. How does Agathon describe love?

9. What does love have the power to do, according to Agathon?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

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

After a brief argument with Socrates, Agathon gives his speech.

1) Explain how Agathon disagrees with Phaedrus.

2) Describe what the characteristics of love are, according to Agathon.

3) Explain how Agathon's reputation for being a playwright might have influenced his thoughts and views about love.

4) Describe the effect that love can have on people as they are given in Agathon's speech.

(see the answer keys)

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