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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Atreus do to his nephews' bodies?
(a) He prepares them as a meal for their father.
(b) He burns them.
(c) He buries them.
(d) He feeds them to the pigs.

2. Of what does Phaedra's nurse attempt to convince Hippolytus in the second act of "Phaedra"?
(a) He should seek Athena's counsel.
(b) He should become more sociable and try to find love.
(c) He should try to bring his father back from the Underworld.
(d) He should never come back to the city.

3. What parts of Thyestes' sons are presented to Thyestes as a gift?
(a) Their livers.
(b) Their heads.
(c) Their hands.
(d) Their hearts.

4. What fate awaits the children of Thyestes?
(a) They will be exiled.
(b) Their bodies will be boiled to pieces.
(c) Their bodies will be fed to wild animals.
(d) They will be buried alive.

5. Who is Theseus' first wife?
(a) Cassandra.
(b) Jocasta.
(c) Andromache.
(d) Hyppolyta.

6. What emotion is Thyestes mysteriously experiencing in the beginning of the last act of "Thyestes"?
(a) Happiness.
(b) Anger.
(c) Triumph.
(d) Grief.

7. Upon what were Thyestes' sons sacrificed?
(a) The weapons of their ancestors.
(b) A pyre.
(c) Their grandfather's tomb.
(d) An altar.

8. At the end of the second act of "Phaedra," in what does the chorus hope Hippolytus will find comfort?
(a) His prayers to Diana.
(b) His beauty.
(c) His love of the outdoors.
(d) His hunting skills.

9. What false offer has Atreus apparently made to Thyestes, according to the third act of "Thyestes"?
(a) The two brothers will rule the kingdom jointly.
(b) Thyestes will rule in Atreus' stead.
(c) Atreus will groom young Tantalus to rule the kingdom.
(d) Atreus will have his nephews educated if Thyestes becomes his advisor.

10. Over what is Tantalus anguishing in the beginning of "Thyestes"?
(a) His suicide.
(b) The Greek's plot against his sons.
(c) The sins of his sons.
(d) The death of his wife.

11. In the second act of "Thyestes," how does Atreus plan to wreak vengeance against his brother?
(a) Thyestes will be tricked into eating his own children.
(b) Thyestes will be burned alive.
(c) Thyestes will be dragged to death by his horses.
(d) Thyestes will be blinded.

12. In what sort of garb is Phaedra's nurse dressed in the third act?
(a) Mourning garb.
(b) Hunting garb.
(c) Priestess robes.
(d) Wedding dress.

13. At the end of the third act of "Phaedra," the chorus cries, "Why dost thou dwell afar,/ All too indifferent to men,/ Not anxious to bring blessing to the good,/ And to the evil, bane"? About what is the chorus lamenting?
(a) Phaedra falsely accused Hippolytus of rape.
(b) Phaedra has committed suicide.
(c) Hippolytus has been murdered.
(d) Hippolytus has tried to kill his father.

14. In what state is Tantalus in the first act of "Thyestes"?
(a) A ghost.
(b) Near death.
(c) Buried alive.
(d) Imprisoned.

15. What does the chorus sing about at the end of the first act of "Phaedra"?
(a) They sing about how every living creatures will surrender to love eventually.
(b) They sing about the unnatural love Phaedra has for Hippolytus.
(c) They sing about Aphrodite's influence over Phaedra.
(d) They sing about the transcendent nature of death.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the nurse show Theseus when he demands to know why Phaedra is determined to die in the third act?

2. In the fourth act of "Phaedra," what new character enters the play?

3. When Hippolytus rebuffs Phaedra, how does she react?

4. What creature attacked Hippolytus?

5. Why does Atreus not fear his subjects' favor?

(see the answer keys)

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