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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is heard from inside the palace after Aegisthus enters it?
(a) Pylades is screaming as Aegisthus murders him.
(b) Electra screaming as Aegisthus murders her.
(c) Orestes screaming as he is murdered by Aegisthus.
(d) Aegisthus screaming as he is being murdered.

2. Why does Clytemnestra grieve after the false news of her son's death?
(a) She regrets her treatment of Electra.
(b) Orestes was the only child she loved.
(c) She regrets banishing him..
(d) Orestes is the only hope of breaking the family curse.

3. What will be the first action taken when Orestes and Pylades infiltrate the palace?
(a) Electra will be guided to safety.
(b) Clytemnestra will be killed.
(c) Cilissa will be alerted.
(d) Aegisthus will be killed.

4. In the last part of "The Eumenides", why does Apollo appear in the court?
(a) He is there to testify in Orestes' favor.
(b) He is there to keep the Furies under control.
(c) He is there to testify against Orestes.
(d) He is there to protect Orestes during the trial.

5. What does Clytemnestra call out for when she hears the noise from inside the palace in the third part of "The Libation Bearers"?
(a) An axe.
(b) The Furies.
(c) A sword.
(d) Zeus's intervention.

6. What does Orestes claim has taken away the sin of his mother's murder away?
(a) Time.
(b) Grief.
(c) The sins of the the mother.
(d) The blessings of the gods.

7. Why is it important that Athena know about Orestes' familial relations?
(a) Athena favors Electra as a priestess.
(b) Athena cursed Atreus.
(c) Athena favored Agamemnon during the Trojan War.
(d) Athena favored Clytemnestra above all other queens.

8. What has Electra been forced to do in the years since her father's death?
(a) Disown her brother.
(b) Treat Aegisthus as her father.
(c) Mourn him in secret.
(d) Disown her father.

9. What must Aegisthus bring with him to the palace?
(a) A regiment of soldiers.
(b) Offerings to the gods.
(c) Agamemnon's body.
(d) Orestes' sword.

10. Why does Orestes wish to return to the oracle at the end of "The Libation Bearers"?
(a) He wants to receive punishment for his deeds.
(b) He wants to be reassured that he did the right thing.
(c) He wants another prophecy revealed to him.
(d) He wants to receive absolution for his deeds.

11. What do the Furies tell Apollo about their hunt for Orestes?
(a) It is their right to punish those who murder their mothers.
(b) It is their right to avenge the death of Iphigenia upon anyone connected.
(c) It is their right to hunt whom they please.
(d) It is their right to hunt someone who has left his sister an orphan.

12. What false news does the disguised Orestes give Clytemnestra?
(a) Electra is dead.
(b) Orestes is returning.
(c) Electra has run away.
(d) Orestes is dead.

13. What does Orestes see when he cries out in terror after he has avenged his father's murder?
(a) Aegisthus.
(b) Agamemnon.
(c) Erinyes or Furies.
(d) Clytemnestra.

14. What do the Furies complain about when Athena leaves in the second part of the third play?
(a) The younger gods.
(b) The older gods.
(c) Humans.
(d) The Ancients.

15. What does Apollo tell the court about his decree to Orestes?
(a) He cursed Clytemnestra and was passing on judgment.
(b) He was passing on Zeus's judgment about justice.
(c) He favored Agamemnon and was avenging his death.
(d) He was not acting upon any other's will but his own.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what state is Orestes' old nurse, Cilissa, upon hearing that Orestes was murdered?

2. How does Clytemnestra plead for her life to Orestes?

3. What do the Furies claim about Orestes to Athena?

4. Why should Apollo's claim about the nature of parenthood appeal to Athena?

5. What do Orestes and Electra ask of their father's spirit?

(see the answer keys)

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