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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. To whom does Orestes pray when he arrives at the destination Apollo sent him to?
(a) Aphrodite.
(b) Hera.
(c) Demeter.
(d) Athena.

2. In what state is Orestes' old nurse, Cilissa, upon hearing that Orestes was murdered?
(a) She is distraught.
(b) She is happy.
(c) She is confused.
(d) She is relieved.

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

4. What does Orestes wonder about Aegisthus after he has murdered his mother?
(a) He wonders if Aegisthus was truly guilty.
(b) He wonders if Aegisthus was repenting his sins in the last moments of his life.
(c) He wonders if Aegisthus is receiving an adulterer's punishment.
(d) He wonders if Aegisthus suffered during his death.

5. According to the chorus, to what did Clytemnestra give birth in her dream?
(a) A goat.
(b) A snake.
(c) A lion.
(d) A gorgon.

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

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

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

9. What does Orestes remind his mother of when she pleads for her life?
(a) The gods' will.
(b) His love for her.
(c) Electra's inability to mourn for her father.
(d) Her sins.

10. What does Athena name the judges who will vote on whether Orestes is guilty or not in the last part of the third play?
(a) The Colopagus.
(b) The oracles.
(c) The Areopagus.
(d) The Eumidagos.

11. How does Orestes introduce himself to Athena?
(a) He tells her he is Clytemnestra's son.
(b) He tells her he is Atreus's grandson.
(c) He tells her he is Agamemnon's son.
(d) He tells her he is Electra's brother.

12. What is the main conflict between Athena and the Furies?
(a) The Furies believe Athena is unfavorably judging them.
(b) They argue about whether the old gods or young gods are more relevant.
(c) The Furies wish for Athena to join them.
(d) The Furies want to overthrow Zeus, but Athena will not allow them.

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

14. Why should Apollo's claim about the nature of parenthood appeal to Athena?
(a) Athena has no mother and was born from Zeus's head.
(b) Athena was abandoned by her father.
(c) Athena has no father and was born from Hera's head.
(d) Athena was abandoned by her mother.

15. What does Orestes firmly reinforce while protesting his innocence to the council?
(a) He was acting on Apollo's will.
(b) He was acting on Zeus's will.
(c) He was acting on his father's will.
(d) He was acting on his own will.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What does Orestes see when he cries out in terror after he has avenged his father's murder?

3. What question does Orestes ask Pylades while confronted by his mother?

4. What do the Furies turn into at Athena's behest at the very end of The Oresteia?

5. What does the chorus instruct Cilissa to do instead of following Clytemnestra's orders?

(see the answer keys)

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