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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 the other major composer of early Greek poetry that is mentioned in the Introduction?

2. How does the poet describe the laws of peace that he wishes to linger in at the end of The Hymn to Ares?

3. Along with his feats of strength, which one of the following is also discussed in The Hymn to Herakles?

4. Based on the myth, what does Hermes use the shell of the turtle to make?

5. When does Hermes reportedly kill a large turtle?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How long ago was the collection of The Homeric Hymns formed, and how many songs were compiled?

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

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

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

6. How does Hermes invent the lyre?

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

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

9. Where is Dionysus captured in The Hymn to Dionysus?

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 adventures of Herakles are presented in The Hymn to Herakles.

1) Describe the origin of Herakles, and the recurring theme that it reflects.

2) Explain why Herakles is known for his strength by including examples of the feats in The Hymn to Herakles.

3) Describe how Herakles proves himself and the way he is ultimately rewarded.

Essay Topic 2

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.

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.

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