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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. What does Phaedra's confidante try to dissuade her from doing?

2. How does Hippolytus die?

3. What is Phaedra doing in the beginning of the fifth act?

4. What emotion is Thyestes mysteriously experiencing in the beginning of the last act of "Thyestes"?

5. How does Thyestes feel about his impending meeting with his brother?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the chorus at the end of the first act of "Phaedra" singing about and how does it relate to the action of the play?

2. What plot does Atreus form against his brother and why?

3. What do Thyestes and his children believe about their upcoming meeting with Atreus?

4. For what reasons did Atreus murder his nephews?

5. How is Tantalus manipulated into releasing the Fury upon the House of Pelops?

6. Describe Theseus' conflicting emotions over the death of his son and upon learning of his wife's deception.

7. How does Hippolytus die in "Phaedra"?

8. Upon what does Thyestes unknowingly feast and how does it make him feel before he learns the truth of his brother's treachery?

9. Describe Hippolytus' preferences in life and how he is at odds with other people over it.

10. For what does Theseus pray at the end of the third act of "Phaedra" and how does the chorus react?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How is justice handled in a Senecan tragedy? Discuss this in the following format:

Part 1) Atreus and Thyestes.

Part 2) The death of Hippolytus and Phaedra's suicide.

Part 3) Polyxena and Astyanax.

Part 4) Octavia's fate.

Part 5) Tantalus.

Essay Topic 2

What is the link between power and adultery in "Octavia"? How does Nero use the adultery of Octavia's mother against his wife? Why is this hypocritical of him? How does Nero use his adultery to cement his power over Octavia and Rome? Develop a clear thesis statement and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What is the relationship between life and death in the Senecan tragedy? How does this account for the frequent presence of the ghosts in these plays? What does this suggest about the afterlife? How do the living characters face their death and why is this important? Develop a clear thesis on this topic and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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