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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. About what act is Theseus manipulated into believing occurred in his absence during the third act of "Phaedra"?
2. 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?
3. How does Atreus plan to lure Thyestes to his castle?
4. At the end of the second act of "Phaedra," in what does the chorus hope Hippolytus will find comfort?
5. In what sort of garb is Phaedra's nurse dressed in the third act?
Short Essay Questions
1. Why does Phaedra wear hunting garb in the second act?
2. Describe Hippolytus' preferences in life and how he is at odds with other people over it.
3. What happens when Phaedra reveals to Hippolytus her attraction for him?
4. What does Theseus plan to do at the end of "Phaedra" in regards to his dead family and why?
5. Upon what does Thyestes unknowingly feast and how does it make him feel before he learns the truth of his brother's treachery?
6. For what reasons did Atreus murder his nephews?
7. What do Thyestes and his children believe about their upcoming meeting with Atreus?
8. What does Atreus offer his brother during their false reconciliation and how does Thyestes react to the gifts?
9. Describe Theseus' conflicting emotions over the death of his son and upon learning of his wife's deception.
10. What plot does Atreus form against his brother and why?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Write a brief essay about whether Oedipus and Jocasta deserve to be punished for their inadvertent incest. Discuss Jocasta's statement, "Fate is that fault of thine: by fate no one is made guilty" in relation to your thesis statement. Be sure to discuss the murder of Laius and how it has affected Oedipus throughout the years, as well as Tiresias and Creon's beliefs that Oedipus should remain ignorant of his parentage. Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.
Essay Topic 2
What roles do the gods play in the lives of Seneca's characters? How do they handle meting out justice? How do the humans look upon them? What is significant about the fact that the gods are never actually seen in any of these plays? How does this relate to the humans governing themselves and doling out punishments and justice? Develop a clear thesis statement in order to answer these questions (though not exclusively) and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.
Essay Topic 3
What is stoicism? How does this relate to Seneca? How is the Stoic philosophy seen throughout Seneca's plays? Which characters appear to embody stoicism and how does this affect their fate? What does this suggest about Seneca's beliefs? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.
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This section contains 1,268 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) |
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