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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 are the two slaves collecting for their master's beetle at the start of Peace?

2. How is the chorus of old men dressed when they arrive at Bdelycleon's home?

3. What does Dicaeopolis do after the meeting with the Spartans?

4. What happens to Amphitheus?

5. At the think-shop, who is Strepsiades presented to after his enrollment?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Strepsiades beating his son, Pheidippides, in The Clouds?

2. What does Demos and the sausage merchant think of the future at the end of The Knights?

3. Who replaces Strepsiades at the school in The Clouds?

4. How does Cleon react to losing the support of the crowd in The Knights?

5. In Peace, what prevented peace form coming back according to Trygaeus and Hermes?

6. In Peace, why do you think the god of war needs a new pestle?

7. Why is Strepsiades expelled shortly after his enrollment at the school in The Clouds?

8. In what way does Pheidippides change after finishing his training in The Clouds?

9. How important are the discussions by the orators preceding Dicaeopolis?

10. What are the two slaves doing at the start of the Peace?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Satire is a literary style often used by Aristophanes in his plays, through which he uses humor and criticism to examine the nature of government, society, war and gender roles. In Lysistrata, Aristophanes uses satire to examine several different themes. In a critical essay, examine what themes Aristophanes focuses on and how he uses double entendres to add humor. In your essay, make sure you define both satire and double entendres, as well as use examples from the book to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 2

In the Birds, Aristophanes speculates on the creation of a utopia based on two men who want to return to nature by escaping civilization. What aspects of civilization do the men want to escape from, and how does their desire for escape lead to the formation of a utopia? Define utopia in your discussion and use examples from the play to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the role of Socrates in The Clouds and discuss why his character in this play proved controversial. Would you consider his depiction of Socrates comedic? Distorted? Make sure you identify Socrates' role as a well-known and intellectual figure in Athens. Give examples of how Aristophanes used comedy or distorted the truth in his depiction of Socrates in Clouds.

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This section contains 788 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample