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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. Why should a man be hired at a certain age according to 'Works and Days'?

2. In 'Works and Days', where do the third generation's spirits travel?

3. How close is the land of goodness?

4. What happens to the spirits of the men Cronos creates?

5. What does a good servant do during plow time according to 'Works and Days'?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when Orion and Sirius enter mid-heaven according to Hesiod's 'Works and Days'?

2. What does 'Works and Days' suggest a good man listens to?

3. What does Hesiod tell his brother in 'Works and Days', the Gods detest?

4. At what time of year, in 'Works and Days', does Hesiod say his brother should avoid being outside? When is it alright to be outside?

5. Who, according to 'Works and Days', reports to Zeus about the behavior of men?

6. Who should farmers pray to in order to increase their grain supply?

7. Describe what happens in the summertime in the poem 'Works and Days'.

8. What happens when Pandora opens her box?

9. What is Hesiod's final advice in 'Works and Days' ?

10. Who does Hesiod address 'Works and Days' to?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the ways women are described in Hesiod's work. How did the ancient Greeks view women? Site examples from the poems to enhance your argument.

Essay Topic 2

What is the symbolism behind the creation story as a birth process. Why do the Greeks describe creation as a birth where in other traditions the earth, trees, oceans etc. are simply created.

Essay Topic 3

'Theogony' opens quite eloquently but ends abruptly. Discuss the start and conclusion of 'Theogony' and whether these are effective opening and closings. Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 479 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample