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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 do the Furies complain about when Athena leaves in the second part of the third play?

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

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

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

5. What will Athena appoint to pass judgment on the case between Orestes and the Furies?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

9. What does Apollo say about the rights of parents during Orestes' trial?

10. According to their words in the second part of the third play, what do the Furies believe about their rights?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a thesis centered around the argument that a good deal of the problems in "The Oresteia" are the results of a generational conflict. Cite specific examples from the text to support your arguments. Points to consider include:

1) The differing approaches to revenge and justice in each generation.

2) The conflict between the elder gods and the younger gods.

3) Athena's peace offering to the Furies at the end of the play.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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