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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 was the other possibility that Socrates contemplated regarding the afterlife?

2. Against who were Socrates and his partner debating at the end of Book 5, Chapter 2?

3. On what day does the "Phaedo" take place?

4. What theory did the Pythagoreans have about the human soul?

5. How did Phaedo describe Socrates' execution?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Crito attempt to persuade Socrates?

2. Why is Socrates' execution delayed?

3. What were the ancient Greeks' beliefs regarding the afterlife?

4. What is the setting of Book 4?

5. What evidence led Plato and the Pythagoreans to the theory of an eternal soul?

6. What is said, in Book 4, about Socrates' dream?

7. What is the intended audience for Book 5?

8. What do Socrates' friends say about suicide, and the preservation of life, in the "Phaedo"?

9. What is written in Book 5, Chapter 1, about risking the loss of one's life?

10. What do Socrates and Crito say about experts?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tarrant agrees with the conviction passed down by the Athenian authorities. Do you agree that Socrates was guilty? Why or why not? How do you feel about the fact that he was convicted with only 60 of 500 votes? Did he deserve the death penalty? Why or why not? What do you think would happen to Socrates if he lived today? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the characters in "The Last Days of Socrates." What was this person's relationship to Socrates? Did this person affect Socrates' decisions in any way? If so, how? What were this person's core beliefs? What topic did they debate with Socrates? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Socrates refuses to leave Athens and escape his punishment because he felt that it was just to stay. Do you agree? Would it have been better for Socrates to have fled Athens? Why or why not? What do you think you would do in this situation? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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