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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 is Ovid tempted to do when good men die untimely deaths?

2. Which of the following best characterizes the leadership of the Roman Empire during Ovid's life?

3. Who is Ovid trying to persuade to stay away in Amores 1:13?

4. What does Ovid say made Corinna popular in Amores 3:12?

5. What does Ovid define as his natural weapons in Amores 2:1?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Ovid banished from Rome?

2. What does Ovid say about abortion?

3. What happens when Corinna gets pregnant? Whose child is it?

4. How does Ovid embody the dilemma between writing love poems and writing tragedies in Amores Book 3?

5. What does Ovid say causes him to turn cold toward Corinna? What is it about her that he does not like?

6. Explain the incident with Cypassis who is Corinna's lady maid.

7. In Amores book 3, why does Ovid regret writing elegies of Corinna and her beauty?

8. What difference does Ovid and his father have about his career?

9. Does Ovid marry? Does he have children? Describe Ovid's matrimonial and parental experiences.

10. How does Corinna's husband's involvement or lack of involvement affect Ovid's feelings for Corinna?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Summarize the advice that Ovid gives to men and women regarding what to do to "cure" themselves of love.

Part 1. What advice does he give?

Part 2. How accurate or valuable to you feel his advice is?

Part 3. Is any, most, or all of it still applicable today? What has changed and what hasn't?

Essay Topic 2

Ovid lays out a detailed framework for those that wish to be successful courting the other sex. How do you measure up?

Part 1. What specific advice does Ovid give your gender?

Part 2. Are there some parts of the advice that are outdated? Can they be translated to something current? For example, if he refers to a "toga", we can translate it as "clothes."

Part 3. How much of this advice do you currently practice? Do you think your chances in love would be better or worse if you practiced more?

Essay Topic 3

Unlike many other famous pieces of literature, it is the approach to Ovid's work and its format, and not just its content, that offers enduring value and interest. Discuss the concept of creating artistic value of commonplace experiences.

Part 1. What is the difference between approach and content to create a final written product of enduring value?

Part 2. What examples of literature or other writing famous for its approach have been found throughout history? What are illuminated manuscripts?

Part 3. What inherent value do you see this as having? Would you adopt it to make your own commonplace experience extraordinary? If so, what approach would you use?

(see the answer keys)

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