View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Who did Tantalus serve as a meal to the gods?
(a) Plisthenes.
(b) Thyestes.
(c) Atreus.
(d) Pelops.

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

4. According to the chorus in the third act of "Phaedra," what no longer governs mankind?
(a) Love.
(b) Fate.
(c) Justice.
(d) Kindness.

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

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

7. Who is the father of Tantulus?
(a) Zeus.
(b) Hades.
(c) Poseidon.
(d) Pan.

8. Why does Atreus not fear his subjects' favor?
(a) He believes they will never know about his misdeeds.
(b) He knows they do not care for his brother.
(c) He believes he is their supreme ruler.
(d) He knows they will always be loyal to him.

9. What creature attacked Hippolytus?
(a) Medusa.
(b) A Fury.
(c) Cerberus.
(d) Neptune's sea bull.

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

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

12. In the fourth act of "Thyestes," who informs the chorus about Atreus murdering his nephews?
(a) A priest.
(b) Atreus' prefect.
(c) A messenger.
(d) Atreus' minister.

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

14. Why was Hippolytus trapped upon his horse before his death?
(a) He fell and became tangled in the reins.
(b) He could not dismount.
(c) His sword became ensnared with the horse's mane.
(d) His saddle was sabotaged.

15. Upon whom must Tantalus loose the Fury?
(a) The House of Menelaus.
(b) The House of Pelops.
(c) The House of Aeneas.
(d) The House of Priam.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the start of "Phaedra," where is Theseus?

2. What is the station of Theseus' first wife?

3. How does Atreus plan to lure Thyestes to his castle?

4. How does Theseus feel upon learning of his son's death?

5. Whom does Tantalus attempt to warn about their impending deaths?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 464 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample