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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 Hoopoe's servant claim to be when Euelpides and Pisthetaerus first meet him?

2. n Thesmophoriazusae, what is of interest concerning Agathon?

3. Who are fighting over the young man at the end of The Assemblywomen?

4. What are Eulipides and Pisthetaerus doing at the start of The Birds?

5. In The Assemblywomen, what type of government is Praxagora planning?

Short Essay Questions

1. What crime does Mnesilochus admit committing as a woman?

2. In the play The Frogs, where are Dionysus and Xanthias going and how are they greeted when they arrived?

3. Why do the women want to take power in The Assemblywomen and how do they plan on overthrowing the men?

4. How is Praxagora's husband reacting to the new rules instating by Praxagora?

5. How are the women's meeting organized in Thesmophoriazusae?

6. What is Euripides concerned about at the start of Thesmophoriazusae?

7. What society do women in The Assemblywomen plan on instating after voting to put themselves in charge of Athens?

8. Who becomes king of the birds at the end of The Birds?

9. How do Pisthetaerus and the birds subdue the gods?

10. Who arrived in Athens at the end of Lysistrata and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aristophanes often examines gender roles in his writing. Assemblywomen discusses the differences, relationships, and tension created among men and women in ancient Greece. What does Aristophanes illustrate in the women's temporary adoption of the male gender? What statement is he trying to make? Use the play to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 2

Plutus, the last known play of Aristophanes, begins to look towards the pattern of New Comedy rather than old comedy. Discuss how Plutus fits into the role of New Comedy based on themes, writing style and other literary elements.

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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