View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What did Vulcan gain by catching Venus and Mars together and exposing them?

2. What does Ovid mean when he says, "You get the best vintage from well-cared for grapes?"

3. Where does Ovid recommend that a person start his or her quest for love?

4. What does Ovid recommend NOT doing at night?

5. Which fine art does Ovid recommend attending while trying to cure a love?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does Ovid recommend seclusion as a cure for love? What does he say on the subject?

2. How does Ovid feel about flattery?

3. What does Ovid say about the way a woman walks and carries herself?

4. What does Ovid recommend doing with old letters from an affair you are trying to forget? What else does he say on the subject?

5. Summarize the story of Procris and Cephalus. What point does Ovid make?

6. What advice does Ovid give regarding the maids and servants of a lover?

7. What element does Ovid say is most important when playing games? Why?

8. What advice does Ovid have for men regarding their hair, body, and clothes?

9. Are Daedalus and his son successful in their flight? What happens?

10. What advice does Ovid give women regarding hair?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Art of Love contains a lot of good information but some of it is also outdated. Some is simply outdated such as purple is no longer a pretentious color to wear because purple dye is no longer costly. Some reflect changing cultures and gender roles. Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of Ovid's advice in The Art of Love.

Part 1. As a sum total, what is the worth of Ovid's advice? Is the quality of his advice different for the different genders?

Part 2. What has become outdated? Can it be modernized to fit today's society?

Part 3. What might be important today that he could not have known about or included when he lived and wrote?

Essay Topic 2

Ovid gives quite a bit of detailed advice to both genders about how to fare well in love. How does his advice differ for the genders?

Part 1. What discrepancy is there in the enduring quality of the advice Ovid gives between the genders?

Part 2. Have gender roles changed since Rome in 4AD? How? Have the changes been significant or minor?

Part 3. What fundamental aspects would have to change for The Art of Love to be updated?

Essay Topic 3

Summarize the advice that Ovid gives to men and/or women regarding what to do to be successful in obtaining and securing a lover.

Part 1. What suggestions does he make regarding appearance?

Part 2. What suggestions does he make regarding behavior?

Part 3. How accurate or valuable to you feel his advice is?

Part 4. Is any, most, or all of it still applicable today? What has changed and what hasn't?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,128 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample