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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 is the term used to describe the fleet of ships?

2. Who assassinated Alcibiades?

3. During the period of disease and death, it is said that ____ reigned.

4. Gylippus fortified the Little Harbor with seawalls and _____.

5. Who was responsible for framing Athens for the death of a Spartan soldier?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was the first step in Polemides becoming an assassin?

2. Discuss the reason Alcibiades was called to court. What is the response of the public?

3. Discuss the arrival of and devastation caused by the Plague.

4. What is Telamon's prediction about the war? Why does Telamon make the prediction? Is it correct?

5. Jason and Polemides were not accounted prior to Polemides' trial. How did the men meet?

6. Discuss the state of Athens at this point in the story. Who tells the story?

7. Who is the main character in the story? What happens to him?

8. How did the Plague affect Polemides on a personal level?

9. Who was Eunice? How was she attached to Polemides?

10. Who is Jason? How is he introduced? Why is Jason important to the story?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Endius stated that Lysander would win the war against Alcibiades. Although both men were highly skilled, Endius believed that Lysander would prevail due to his cruelty and single minded focus. Explain what Endius meant by this statement. Why was Lysander considered to be cruel? Was Alcibiades cruel? Give at least three examples in which Lysander exhibited extreme cruelty during his tenure as a Spartan general.

Essay Topic 2

The narration of the story mainly falls on Jason or his grandson. Why does Pressfield choose to have the grandson narrate instead of Jason? Why is Jason an important enough character to lead the story? Who else narrates? Does each person tell his own story? Who do you think is the best narrator? Why? Does the story benefit from having more than one narrator or is the switch confusing and/or unnecessary? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Polemides' family connections and how they affected his personal and professional lives. At what point(s) did Polemides risk his life for his family? What became of the following people: Phoebe, Nicolaus, Eunice, Daphne, Polemides' father, Meri, and Lion? How did the changes in these relationships affect Polemides? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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