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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. Which Trojan warrior does Patroclus kill?

2. Who tears down the wall around the Greeks’ ships?

3. Who does Thetis say will die as a prelude to Achilles’ death?

4. Who would be Ariston Achaion if Achilles were not?

5. What does Agamemnon do, that almost starts a mutiny?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Achilles’ relationship to Hector change?

2. What are Patroclus’ feelings during the crisis over Chriseis and Briseis?

3. Whati s Achilles’ reaction to Patroclus’ interview with Agamemnon?

4. What is Achilles’ answer to the situation Agamemnon and Patroclus have set up?

5. Describe the tension that is created in the meeting between Achilles and Agamemnon.

6. How does Patroclus try to moderate the effects of Achilles’ withdrawal?

7. How does Achilles react to Patroclus’ death?

8. How do the Greeks react when Achilles withdraws from the fighting?

9. Why does Patroclus ask Achilles to claim Briseis?

10. What is Patroclus’ experience of fighting?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

When is The Song of Achilles most itself? What is its characteristic passage, or moment? What makes that moment or passage the most representative of the book as a whole? Are there any places where the book seems to depart from its typical self, as if to become a different book?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the most important plot points in The Song of Achilles. What is at stake in each of these moments? What possibilities do these moments present, and how are those possibilities channeled into specific actions or events? How does the plot chart its course among other alternative or possible plots?

(see the answer keys)

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