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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. Who or what is being described when the word "fetlocks" is used in line 295?

2. What does Venus compare Adonis to in line 8?

3. Which is the best definition of "bootless" in the context of line 422?

4. How does Adonis react to Venus's comparison of herself to a park?

5. Which is the best characterization of the connotations of Venus's description of "fountains" (line 234) and "rising hillocks" in her description of the park (line 237)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What plan does Adonis share with Venus just as she is finally about to let him leave her, and how does Venus react?

2. How does the mare react to the stallion at first, and how does her reaction change?

3. What does Venus tell Adonis he can learn from his horse?

4. Explain the epic simile about an eagle in lines 55-60.

5. What is Venus's purpose in talking about her relationship with the god of war?

6. Explain the conceit that Venus uses when she compares herself to a park.

7. How does Adonis eventually end up kissing Venus?

8. How do Venus and Adonis end up on the ground together?

9. Explain the comparison made between Adonis's mouth and a "red morn" (line 453).

10. What does Venus convey in the speech about her senses that begins in line 433, "Had I no eyes but ears"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Venus and Adonis ironically dismisses many of the religious values of Ancient Greece and Rome. But does it express the Christian worldview of Renaissance England in other ways, as well? What values and beliefs does the poem seem to endorse--either explicitly or implicitly? Does the poem contain any religious symbolism, allusions, metaphors, or similes? Write an essay in which you analyze the extent to which Venus and Adonis actively promotes the Christian worldview, as opposed to simply denying the Classical worldview. Support your arguments with evidence from throughout the poem, making sure to cite any quoted language and outside sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 2

Choose one element of the poem that seems to you to be particularly aimed at creating a broad appeal and might therefore have factored into the poem's commercial success. You might focus on the poem's humor, its relatability, its eroticism, or some other factor not yet discussed in this context--such as the Elizabethan interest in Ancient Greece and Rome, for instance. Write an essay that focuses on your chosen element: offer evidence from throughout Venus and Adonis to support your claim that this element is a notable feature of the poem, and then offer historical and literary evidence that demonstrates why this element was likely to have appealed to a wide audience. Support your arguments with both quoted and paraphrased evidence from throughout the poem, making sure to cite any quoted language and outside sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 3

A year after he published Venus and Adonis, Shakespeare published his only other epyllion, The Rape of Lucrece. Does this poem seem as heavily influenced by drama as Venus and Adonis? Read enough of this second epyllion to have a sense of its style. Then, write an essay that compares and contrasts these two mini-epics, focusing your analysis on the extent to which the poems emphasize dialogue and immediate action. Support your assertions with evidence drawn from both poems, and cite any quoted language in MLA format.

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