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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 classical Greek Athenian philosopher was credited as one of the founders of Western philosophy and was known chiefly through the accounts of later classical writers, especially the writings of his students?

2. Who is the father of Oedipus?

3. What refers to a dramatic form that does not observe the laws of cause and effect and that exaggerates emotion and emphasizes plot or action at the expense of characterization?

4. The author asserts that one key factor in obtaining conflict is what?

5. When was "Oedipus Rex" first performed?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the author say about compromise between the pivotal character and the antagonist? Can it be achieved?

2. How does Egri relate the premise to the universal truth?

3. What example does the author give to explain the unity of opposites?

4. How is the antagonist defined and described by the author?

5. How important is a character's environment to their actions?

6. What does the author claim is the one key factor in obtaining conflict?

7. What does the author assert of writers who decide to write of their own experiences?

8. What example does the author give for the use of dialectics in perceiving contradictions in Book II: Character, Chapter 3: The Dialectical Approach?

9. What does Egri say about the writer's doubts about a character's development?

10. What examples does Egri use in Book I: The Premise to describe love in a play?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define and discuss the unity of opposites. How does the author define this term? What does he relate about compromise in the reading?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the play "King Lear" and Egri's assessment of its premise. Who is the pivotal character? Who is the antagonist?

Essay Topic 3

Define and discuss strength of will in character development. Also, define and analyze the terms strength, will, fight, conflict, and transition.

(see the answer keys)

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