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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 the helmsman of the boat recognize?

2. Which one of the following epics was composed by Homer?

3. How is Artemis's skill described in the second hymn?

4. How is Hermes's defense described in the first hymn?

5. Where does Herakles eventually live?

Short Essay Questions

1. What other name is Herakles known as, and how is he born?

2. What are the varying lengths of the hymns?

3. What is the argument between the helmsman and the captain that is described in The Hymn to Dionysus?

4. What does Hermes steal from Apollo and how does he do it?

5. What is one of the theories for why some of the hymns are so short?

6. What leads historians to believe that Homer either wrote or was influential in the writing of the hymns?

7. Why do some historians think that Homer did not actually write his poems?

8. What are the circumstances surrounding Pan's birth and how is he described in The Hymn to Pan?

9. What is unique about the length of The Hymn to Hermes and what is Hermes known for?

10. How is Artemis's beauty portrayed in The Second Hymn to Artemis.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Hymn to Ares introduces a thought provoking theory about war and peace.

1) Describe how The Hymn to Ares is different in style from the other hymns in the collection and the possible reasons why the poet chose to write it in this style.

2) Explain what Ares is known for and why the poet thinks Ares can provide help in gaining courage.

3) Analyze the request made by the poet at the end of The Hymn to Ares and the idea of how fighting wars might lead to peace.

Essay Topic 2

Dionysus is given three hymns in The Homeric Hymns.

1) Describe Dionysus's birth and how he is different than some of the other gods.

2) Explain the events surrounding his capture and how he frees himself.

3) Describe the fate of the crew after Dionysus is free.

4) Using Dionysus's story as an example, analyze the idea of transformation vs. destruction as it is included in Greek mythology.

Essay Topic 3

Chronicle the development of Ancient Greek lyrical poetry, the development of the Greek alphabet, how stories might have been created before it, and the different styles used to distinguish the epic poems from other writings. Include an explanation of the forms used in Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey as a comparison to the writing in other ages and how Homer's work is used to support the theory of the existence of Homeric bards.

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