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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. _____ is incarnate as a goddess closely associated with the Asvins.

2. The red streaks in "The Gale Wind" may be the redness in the sky during rain, or the _____ of the wind.

3. Varuna is called the _____ in the "Deeds of Varuna".

4. What does the name Vena mean?

5. What is the name of the god of formal hospitality to strangers?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is Varuna asked to protect the worshiper from in regards to his own power?

4. What is the nature of Soma in "The Marriage of Surya"?

5. In "Varuna Provoked to Anger", what is the nature of Vasistha's sins toward Varuna?

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

7. Who competes in the contest in "The Maruts" and what are they doing in the competition?

8. How is the phrase 'O, little mother' a triple entendre in "Indra and the Monkey"?

9. Why is the Rig Veda described in "Realia" as worldly?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the author characterize the nature of the Rig Veda in the section entitled "Realia"? Why are the gods usually invoked? What is her opinion on the relationship between the ideas in the Rig Veda and the material world?

Essay Topic 2

Describe how Soma is symbolic. What is it made from? What is its function? Who uses it? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Where does Speech come from? What is its importance? How is speech personified in the hymn, "Speech"?

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