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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 Apala want to do for Indra to get him to help her in "Apala and Indra"?

2. What do the Maruts give Gotama when he prays to them?

3. Parsu's name,as mentioned in the notes for "Indra and the Monkey", means _____.

4. The divine prototype for marriage is the hierogamy of Surya and _____.

5. Seven gods guard Soma, among whom _____ is the foremost.

Short Essay Questions

1. What are two meanings of "Atri and the Lost Sun"?

2. In "Indra and the Maruts", why does Indra mock the Maruts?

3. What is the conflict present in all of the dialogues with women in the Rig Veda? Who succeeds, and who fails in this conflict?

4. In the dialogue between Agastya and the Maruts in "Agastya and the Maruts", what is Agastya trying to do?

5. Who are the sons of the sun and what are their roles?

6. What are the different meanings of the 'house of clay' metaphor in "The House of Clay"?

7. What does Vena personify in the hymn of the same name, and how does this relate to the theme of the hymn?

8. Why does the author say it is a possibility that priests are being satirized in "The Frogs"?

9. According to Indian theory, what happens to the sun during the rainy season?

10. Who brandishes their power and in what way in "The Deeds of Varuna"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many metaphors for the sun in the Rig Veda. Find examples of these and explain how they are used. The sun itself is a metaphor for which gods? Cite examples.

Essay Topic 2

Who are the demons in the Rig Veda? Where do they live? Why do they live there? How do they interact with the gods? What is Sarama's role in relation to the demons?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the relationship between male and female characters in the Rig Veda. Do females have an equal role in the texts? Who is the female counterpart to Yama and what is she known for? Do females invoke the gods? How are female characters voiced?

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