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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 Hermes steal from Apollo?

2. What does Hermes use to enable him to fly as he disguises his theft?

3. What instrument is Artemis known for using?

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

5. What is the length of the longest hymn?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the crew of the sailing ship that captured Dionysus?

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

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

4. What interesting request does the poet have for Ares?

5. How is Hermes born and raised?

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

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

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

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

10. Who assists the poet in The Hymn to the Mother of the Gods, and what does it refer to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe The Hymn to Hephaistos, the characteristics of Hephaistos, how he uses his intellect, the ways that he helps men with their work, and the lessons that can be learned from his story.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the entire saga of Demeter and her search for Persephone. Include an analysis of how Zeus becomes involved, the story of Demeter, King Celeus, and Metanira, the reunion between Demeter and Persephone, and how it leads to the changing of the seasons. Also, describe how Greek mythology was designed to explain the origins for things and which hymns illustrate that intent the most.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 830 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample