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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 does Athena proclaim before the judges announce their vote at the end of "The Eumenides"?

2. What does Athena decide about the case presented to her by Orestes and the Furies?

3. What does Orestes hold up as proof that his father has been avenged?

4. To whom does Orestes pray when he arrives at the destination Apollo sent him to?

5. According to Apollo in the first part of the third play, where must Orestes travel?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Clytemnestra attempt to defend herself against Orestes in the last part of "The Libation Bearers"?

2. What does Athena decide to do about judging the case between Orestes and the Furies?

3. What ends up being the fate of the Furies at the end of the play?

4. Who is revealed to be encouraging the Furies to hunt Orestes and why?

5. Why does Orestes decide to go back to the oracle?

6. How do Orestes and Pylades get inside the palace?

7. Why does Apollo appear to Orestes while at Delphi?

8. What does Orestes find ironic about the deaths of Aegisthus and Clytemnestra?

9. Why is it important that Orestes tell Athena who his father was when the goddess comes to him?

10. What is the conflict between the Furies and Apollo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "The Oresteia", the women are the ones who are depicted as seeking revenge. With this in mind, what is the play attempting to say about women? Create a strong thesis. Points to consider include:

1) Clytemnestra's revenge for her daughter's death.

2) Cassandra's visions and her prayers that her death will be avenged.

3) The Furies as bloodthirsty, vengeful goddesses.

4) Orestes' quest of revenge.

5) The roles of Athena and Apollo in Orestes' plight.

Essay Topic 2

A constant, repeated theme in the first play of "The Oresteia" is that the Trojans got what they deserved when their city fell and people killed or enslaved. Explore this theme in the larger context of the entire play cycle. What does it mean when characters in "The Oresteia" are justifiably punished? How do they react to being punished? Cite specific examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of dramatic irony within "The Oresteia". What characters seem to be the victims of this? Why can these characters never truly fulfill their goals? City specific examples from the text to support your arguments.

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This section contains 998 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample