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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 color sails are flying on the ship that comes to Achilles and Patroclus?

2. What announcement does Peleus make to the gathered company upon Achilles and Patroclus' return?

3. How does Achilles surprise Patroclus when they return to Phthia?

4. Why is Patroclus threatened with punishment at Peleus’ house?

5. How does Thetis change Achilles’ appearance when he returns to Phthia?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Chiron offer to teach Patroclus and Achilles, and what is Patroclus most interested in learning from him?

2. How do Achilles and Patroclus come to be close?

3. How does Patroclus’ life change when he arrives at Peleus’ court?

4. How do Achilles and Patroclus bring their relationship to its first crisis?

5. What conundrum is Patroclus caught in, now that the army will be going to Troy?

6. How does Achilles show Patroclus another way of looking at the death of Clysonymus?

7. How does the news of the war find Achilles and Patroclus on Scyros?

8. Why does Patroclus’ father take him to bid for Tyndareus’ hand in marriage?

9. How is Achilles’ identity unmasked?

10. What leverage do Odysseus and Diomedes use to get Achilles to go to Troy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the role of women in The Song of Achilles. How are they portrayed? What traits distinguish them from the men? What flexibility do the female characters have, to change how they are perceived, or to exceed the rules for women?

Essay Topic 2

What topics would you like to research further, after reading The Song of Achilles? Describe why additional research or reading would be beneficial to an understanding of this book. Propose a list of articles or books you would read in order to get a better handle on The Song of Achilles.

Essay Topic 3

Where is the climax of this book? Are there different climaxes? What questions does each climax resolve? What questions does each climax leave unanswered?

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