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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Atreus protect his sons from sharing the blame for his plot against Thyestes?
(a) Atreus lies to them about his plan.
(b) Atreus keeps them completely ignorant of the plan.
(c) Atreus pleads with Zeus to keep them ignorant.
(d) Atreus sends them away.

2. 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 transcendent nature of death.
(c) They sing about the unnatural love Phaedra has for Hippolytus.
(d) They sing about Aphrodite's influence over Phaedra.

3. What does Phaedra's nurse lament in the beginning of the second act?
(a) Theseus' death.
(b) Hippolytus' disdain of women.
(c) Phaedra's plan to seduce Hippolytus.
(d) Phaedra's planned suicide.

4. How does Phaedra respond when Theseus demands to know why she is apparently suicidal?
(a) She tries to make love to him.
(b) She would rather die than confide in him about the "evil" someone did to her.
(c) She tries to throw herself out the window.
(d) She begins to scream.

5. How does Atreus justify his wicked plans against his brother?
(a) Atreus believes he is being commanded by the gods.
(b) He claims Thyestes raped his wife.
(c) Atreus is free to act because of his brother's actions against him.
(d) Atreus knows his brother is an atheist and will be under no protection.

6. What reason does Atreus give for hating the three boys?
(a) They are his brother's sons.
(b) They could change the tide of favor against Atreus.
(c) Atreus was in love with their mother.
(d) The boys tormented Atreus' sons.

7. How does Phaedra die?
(a) Theseus kills her.
(b) She dies from grief.
(c) She commits suicide.
(d) Neptune's sea bull throws her in the sea.

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

9. To where is Thyestes traveling in the third act?
(a) Argos.
(b) Troy.
(c) Thebes.
(d) Corinth.

10. Why does the nurse claim to be dressed in a particular manner in the third act of "Phaedra"?
(a) She is joining the hunt.
(b) Phaedra wants to die.
(c) She is going to be wed.
(d) She has joined the temple of Apollo.

11. To whom does Phaedra confide her desire for Hippolytus?
(a) Her daughter.
(b) Theseus.
(c) Hippolytus' nurse.
(d) Hippolytus' sister.

12. What must Atreus convince Thyestes to accept in the third act of "Thyestes"?
(a) Gold.
(b) The position of head advisor.
(c) Half of the crown.
(d) A wife.

13. How does Hippolytus die?
(a) He is dragged into the sea by Neptune's creature.
(b) He is stabbed by his own sword.
(c) He is dragged to death on the rocks.
(d) He is thrown from a cliff.

14. How was young Tantalus murdered?
(a) He was drowned.
(b) He was thrown from a tower.
(c) He was disemboweled.
(d) His throat was cut.

15. Who commands Tantalus to cast his chaos upon others?
(a) The Gorgons.
(b) The Fury.
(c) Zeus.
(d) Hades.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what state is Tantalus in the first act of "Thyestes"?

2. Upon what were Thyestes' sons sacrificed?

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

4. To whom do Thyestes and Atreus drink a toast in the fifth act of "Thyestes"?

5. Although he refuses to grant Phaedra a proper burial, what does Theseus plan to do at the end of the play?

(see the answer keys)

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