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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. Why does Clytemnestra grieve after the false news of her son's death?

2. How does Orestes convince Electra that he is her brother when they find each other at Agamemnon's tomb?

3. What does Orestes promise Zeus if he succeeds in his revenge?

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

5. What is the result of the judges' vote after the trial?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Orestes defend himself in his trial?

2. What are the Furies and why are they tormenting Orestes at the end of "The Libation Bearers"?

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

4. Why is Clytemnestra's dream significant to Orestes?

5. How does the chorus know that Aegisthus is being murdered?

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

7. Why do the Furies claim Orestes' journey to Athens has been useless when they catch up with him in the second part of "The Eumenides"?

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

9. After he is freed at the end of "The Oresteia", what does Orestes claim to want for the future?

10. How does the chorus influence Cilissa when she enters?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the roles of justice and revenge in "The Oresteia"? What are the differences between the two? What characters seek justice and what characters seek revenge? How does this reflect upon the play cycle as a whole? Cite specific examples from the text to support your arguments.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the following options to write about. Cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

1) Electra as a passive character.

2) The herald's statements about the price of victory in war.

3) The curse on the house of Atreus.

Essay Topic 3

When the Greek tragedies were first written, the stories and characters were well known to the audiences, which is why "The Oresteia" has a fairly complicated web of plot lines, history, and characters. Luckily, for modern audiences who may not be as familiar with these stories, though, characters, especially the chorus, offer insight and back stories in what is about to take place. Discuss the use of exposition in "The Oresteia". Does it add to or subtract from the content of the play? Is it strictly necessary to be familiar already with these stories? Why? Cite specific examples from the text to support your claims.

(see the answer keys)

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