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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. How does Phaedra respond when Theseus demands to know why she is apparently suicidal?

2. Who did Tantalus serve as a meal to the gods?

3. Over what is Tantalus anguishing in the beginning of "Thyestes"?

4. Who enters at the end of the second act of "Phaedra"?

5. How does Phaedra die?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the murders of Thyestes' sons.

2. In what conflicting moods does Thyestes find himself as he travels to Argos?

3. How is Theseus manipulated into believing his son raped Phaedra?

4. Discuss the character of Atreus.

5. Discuss the backstory of the House of Pelops.

6. What does Atreus claim about Thyestes' grief at the end of "Thyestes"?

7. Why does Phaedra wear hunting garb in the second act?

8. Of what does Hippolytus' nurse try to convince Phaedra in the first act?

9. Over what is Tantalus agonizing in the afterlife and why?

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

Discuss the circular nature of playwrights influencing each other through authors such as Seneca in the following format:

Part 1) The original versions of these plays.

Part 2) The differences between the original play and Seneca's version.

Part 3) The "revenge play."

Part 4) The use of ghosts.

Part 5) The introduction of onstage violence.

Cite specific examples from Seneca's work to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss fate and free will in "Oedipus" in the following format:

Part 1) Laius' order that his son be killed at birth.

Part 2) The subversion of Laius' order and Oedipus' subsequent adoption.

Part 3) Oedipus fleeing from Corinth.

Part 4) The pestilence and need to punish Laius' murderer.

Part 5) Jocasta's realization that they were pawns of fate.

Part 6) The irony of the self-fulfilling prophecy.

(see the answer keys)

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