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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. The Soma stalk mixes with water to form the juice of _____.

2. What are the sisters that embrace the pressing stones?

3. Who eats the flesh of the sacrificed horse?

4. What are the human and demonic enemies of the invading Indo-Aryans?

5. The traditional _____ in the Rig Veda is the tale of the king and the priest.

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the sacred grass in "The Hymn of Man" and what is it used for?

2. What is the function of the enclosing-sticks in "The Hymn of Man" as opposed to the fuel-sticks?

3. What are the meanings of the recurrent epithet, "Knower of creatures"?

4. What is the meaning of the horse carrying the body in "Requiem for a Horse"?

5. What are the first ritual laws called, and what is their purpose?

6. What is the actual content of the secret in "The Mystery of Agni"?

7. What is the function of the "Royal Consecration" hymn, and what would accompany it?

8. In "Aditi and the Birth of the Gods", what does the author think is meant by the poet's seeing the birth of the gods?

9. How is butter visualized in the hymn, "Butter"?

10. In "The Creation of the Sacrifice", what is the significance of weaving?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is Parjanya personified? What is paradoxical about the way he is personified in "Parjanya, the Cow'?

Essay Topic 2

What role does 'butter' play in the Rig Veda? What is its literal meaning in this context? Find examples of and explain its metaphorical meaning.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the ritual involved in the sacrifice of the horse. Describe of each stage of the sacrifice. Who is involved? Who is the sacrifice dedicated to?

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This section contains 601 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample