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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 feeling of the general public in regard to the Archbishop's return?

2. What does Becket claim is the "substance of our first act?"

3. How does the structure of the dialogue change during Becket's first temptation?

4. What does the First Priest believe was Becket's character flaw that ultimately brought an end to his friendship with the King?

5. What month does the Second Tempter say Beckett will have power?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Becket believe a martyr should be defined?

2. How does the Chorus feel about Becket's return to England?

3. According to Becket, how do we define peace?

4. What is the opinion of the three priests on the subject of Becket's homecoming to Canterbury?

5. Who does the Fourth Knight believe truly killed Thomas Becket? What is his proof that this is true?

6. What is one of the more specific crimes the Knights bring up in their accusations?

7. How long has Thomas Becket been away from Canterbury? Why has he chosen to stay away for so long?

8. Explain what is offered by the Second Tempter and why it would appeal to Thomas Beckett

9. What is the tone of the Chorus' "death-bringers" speech after the Knights exit for the first time?

10. What is a method that Becket uses to outline his sermon in the Interlude?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The Chorus serves as a sort of guide and narrator throughout the play.

Part 1) Why does Eliot make the Chorus a group of women? How does this create a different dramatic effect from a male chorus?

Part 2) Describe which social group the Chorus represents and why that is important to its purpose in the plot.

Part 3) What is the Chorus' relationship to Becket and why is that important to their relationship to the audience (the reader)? Is the Chorus a surrogate for us?

Essay Topic 2

Choose two of the characters from the play excluding Becket. Compare and contrast the following aspects of the characters:

Part 1) Their social standing.

Part 2) Their political views.

Part 3) Their religious beliefs.

Now describe how these traits affect their opinion of Becket and his actions in the play. How are their opinions different? How are they similar?

Essay Topic 3

In Part II, the Fourth Knight states that "there are times when violence is the only way social justice can be secured." They have just killed an important political figure to bring about what they perceive to be order, and they believe it to be justified.

1) Can you see the Knight's point of view on this matter? Explain why they may or may not be justified in their actions.

2) Use an important historic event that you believe parallels the Knights belief. Look at the details of such events as the 1968 Democratic National Convention or the Rodney King riots. You may even use examples of executions and the death penalty (i.e. The hanging of Saddam Hussein). Compare your example to that of the murder of Thomas Becket. Looking at your evidence, do you believe that violence can bring about a peaceful end?

(see the answer keys)

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