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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 family of sages who praise Dawn in "Dawn and the Asvins" are called _____.

2. Who invokes the Asvins to help her find her husband?

3. In "Varuna the Friend of Vasistha", where does the sun rest all night?

4. What is Nirrti called in the texts of the Rig Veda?

5. Asura is a _____ in early Vedic tradition, before he becomes a demon.

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the poet ask for at the end of "Parjanya, the Bull", and why?

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

5. What is Yami's argument to persuade Yama to have incest relations with her, and who does she invoke to aid her with this?

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

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

8. How is creation mythology presented in "Varuna Provoked to Anger"?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the two incarnations of Parjanya? What is the significance of Parjanya as a god figure? What is paradoxical about Parjanya's gender in "Parjanya, the Cow"?

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

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

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