View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Apollo tell the court about his decree to Orestes?

2. What happened to Clytemnestra in her dream when she tried to nurse what she'd been birthed?

3. What is coming true for Clytemnestra in the fourth part of "The Libation Bearers"?

4. In the last part of "The Eumenides", why does Apollo appear in the court?

5. Where does the second part of "The Eumenides" take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Orestes mean when he cries out to Zeus in the second part of "The Libation Bearers"?

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

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

4. 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"?

5. According to what he tells Electra and the chorus, why is Orestes seeking vengeance for his father's death?

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

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

8. After receiving false news in the third part of the second play, what is Clytemnestra's reaction to news of Orestes' supposed death?

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

10. In the beginning of "The Eumenides", what is the oracle's vision and what does it mean?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Is "The Oresteia" inherently misogynistic? Create a strong thesis (it is suggested that this thesis be centered on the characters for the sake of clarity) arguing that "The Oresteia" is or is not misogynistic. Points to consider are the treatment of Clytemnestra by the chorus, the role of Aegisthus, and Apollo's views on parents in the third play.

Essay Topic 2

Clytemnestra and Orestes are two of the main characters upon which "The Oresteia" is centered. Discuss the following:

Part 1) Compare and contrast Clytemnestra and Orestes.

Part 2) How do their missions of vengeance differ and how do the gods (including the Furies) look upon them?

Part 3) Orestes' exile by Clytemnestra and how it affects the outcome of the play.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the use of foreshadowing in "The Oresteia". What different forms are used to convey the foreshadowing? How does the heightened language of the play help? How do the chorus and Cassandra's prophecy foreshadow the coming events? Cite specific examples from the text to support your arguments.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 984 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample