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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 word means dark, formless, terrifying abyss?

2. In the hymn, "Indra and the Maruts", what type of animal is named as 'the does' that are yoked to the chariot?

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

4. In the section of the book called "Realia", the hymns are characterized by the author as having a _____ element.

5. In "The House of Clay", Varuna casts his snares upon the offending worshiper in the form of _____.

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8. What is the role of beauty in regards to women in the Rig Veda?

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

10. In "The Courtship of Ghosa", what does Ghosa ask the Asvins?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are the Maruts known for? Whom do they serve? Why does Agastya have to apologize to them?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the many faces of Agni and how he fits into the hierarchy of beings in the Rig Veda. What is mysterious about his birth? Why does he hide?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the plot of the allegory of the "The Boy and the Chariot"? How does the boy follow his father into the realm of Yama? What is he trying to accomplish? What does the chariot symbolize in this myth and throughout the Rig Veda?

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This section contains 711 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample