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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. The Athenians and Spartans fought because _________________________.

2. Sophocles' characters ________________________________.

3. Who wrote the first Greek tragedy?

4. Thucydides feels that the Athenians lost the war because they were ________________.

5. Xenophon felt that it was significant ________________________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Euripides write Trojan Women?

2. How did Euripides treat religion?

3. What are the characteristics of Greek tragedy?

4. What were Xenophon's views on war?

5. The Retreat of the Ten Thousand was Xenophon's claim to fame. What was it?

6. What are the four elements in every tragedy?

7. What is a characteristic of the characters of Aeschylus?

8. In what ways does Sophocles differ from Aeschylus?

9. Why did Thucydides write a book on the war between Athens and Sparta?

10. Explain why the Theater of Dionysus was a religious experience for the audience.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It is said that if one wants to learn the ethics and values of a society, one should examine the work of the dramatists and writers of the time. Why? What is it that is reflected in the literature that can't be found anywhere else? Is this also true of the ancient Greeks?

Essay Topic 2

The ancient Romans are said to have come closest to the accomplishments of the Greeks. Explain why? How did the ancient Roman society differ from that of the Greeks? What contribution did the ancient Romans make to civilization?

Essay Topic 3

Freedom and liberty were the backbone of the ancient Athenian society. People prided themselves on their lifestyle and thinking. Explain what the role of freedom and liberty meant in ancient Athens. Would Athens have become the cradle of Western Civilization without these freedoms? Would they have achieved the great heights that they did achieve? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 594 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample