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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Orestes convince Electra that he is her brother when they find each other at Agamemnon's tomb?
(a) He looks like their father.
(b) He has the marks from their mother's abuse on him.
(c) He bears letters from her.
(d) He is wearing the robe she made for him.

2. What does Orestes believe about the vision he is having at the end of "The Libation Bearers"?
(a) Aegisthus will try to avenge his death upon Electra.
(b) His father is cursing his son's actions.
(c) His mother will haunt him for all his days.
(d) The Furies are going to take revenge upon him for his mother.

3. What ends up freeing Orestes from the Furies at the end of "The Eumenides"?
(a) Clytemnestra's spirit pleads for her son's freedom.
(b) Athena's vote for Orestes breaks the tie in the Areopagus.
(c) The Areopagus votes for Orestes.
(d) Agamemnon's spirit asks the Furies to pursue him in Orestes' place.

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

5. What do the Furies claim about Orestes to Athena?
(a) He will taint his sister's grace if allowed to live.
(b) He is unfit to speak for himself.
(c) He is cursed by his mother.
(d) He will kill all women if allowed to live.

6. From where has Athena flown when she makes her entrance?
(a) Troy.
(b) Rome.
(c) Delphi.
(d) Mycenae.

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

8. When the Furies do not awaken, what does the ghost urge them to dream about?
(a) Hunting wild animals.
(b) Running in the fields.
(c) Destroying Orestes.
(d) Avenging their souls on their murderers.

9. According to Apollo in the first part of the third play, where must Orestes travel?
(a) Athens.
(b) Sparta.
(c) Crete.
(d) Mycenae.

10. What does the chorus instruct Cilissa to do instead of following Clytemnestra's orders?
(a) Cilissa must cut Aegisthus's throat.
(b) Cilissa must bring Aegisthus alone.
(c) Cilissa must convince Aegisthus to cleanse himself.
(d) Cilissa must push Aegisthus into the bay.

11. What is the result of the judges' vote after the trial?
(a) The vote is in favor of Orestes.
(b) The vote is in favor of the Furies.
(c) The judges did not vote as they wished to avoid the wrath of the Furies and of the gods.
(d) The vote is divided evenly.

12. 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.

13. What does Apollo claim about mothers and fathers in the last part of "The Eumenides"?
(a) The father is much more important than the mother.
(b) The mother is much more important than the father.
(c) The mother and father are equal.
(d) The mother and father are always equal, except in the case of Clytemnestra.

14. Where was Orestes when he was told to avenge his father?
(a) Ithaca.
(b) The oracle at Delphi.
(c) Athens.
(d) Sparta.

15. What do Orestes and Electra ask of their father's spirit?
(a) They ask for release.
(b) They ask for strength and guidance.
(c) They ask for forgiveness.
(d) They ask for safe passage to the castle.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does the beginning of "The Eumenides" take place?

2. What do the Furies celebrate in poem and dance in the second part of "The Eumenides"?

3. What does Orestes firmly reinforce while protesting his innocence to the council?

4. What is revealed with Orestes in the fourth part of "The Libation Bearers"?

5. What is the question on the chorus's mind after Orestes flees the palace?

(see the answer keys)

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