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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. Who is believed to be Herakles's father?

2. What is the intent of the captain of the sailing boat?

3. According to the hymn, where does Artemis dance?

4. What instrument is Artemis known for using?

5. Who is the father of Hermes, according to the first Hymn?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Herakles known for and what prayer does the poet make at the conclusion of The Hymn to Herakles?

2. How is the birth and childhood of Dionysus described in The Second Hymn to Dionysus?

3. What happens during and after the "trial" of Hermes?

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

5. What are the varying lengths of the hymns?

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

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

8. Based on the story in The Third Hymn to Dionysus, why is Dionysus hidden as a child?

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

10. How is Asclepios described in The Hymn to Asclepios?

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

Explain how and why myths were written to be entertaining using the hymns to provide examples. Also, analyze the possible results of the myths and their effectiveness if they were not designed to be as entertaining, or could not maintain a person's interest.

Essay Topic 3

This essay will be about The Hymn to Artemis, The Second Hymn to Artemis, and the role of women warriors in Greek mythology.

1) Describe Artemis as she is presented in the hymn.

2) Explain why Artemis is known for two qualities that are not usually associated with each other.

3) Analyze the general purposes of the shorter hymns and what the intentions might have been in writing The Hymn to Artemis.

4) Using The Hymn to Athena, compare Artemis with Athena and their influence on war and in general.

(see the answer keys)

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