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| Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. Fill in the blanks: "For who on the world will both _______ and ________ at once and for the same reason?"
2. Which specific Canterbury martyr does Beckett ask the congregation to remember?
3. On what date does the Interlude take place?
4. What may be one of the reasons for this sermon?
5. What is one way that Beckett defines peace?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
From the moment the play opens, there is an ominous approaching event that culminates in the murder of Thomas Becket. Throughout the play, several characters continue to foreshadow Becket's murder, including Becket himself.
1) Cite several examples of foreshadowing from the text and describe the importance of this as a tool of the plot and the building of characters.
2) Do you believe that knowing about the death of Thomas Becket from the beginning lessens the effectiveness of the climax or strengthens it? Do you believe Eliot's choice made Murder in the Cathedral an effective story?
Essay Topic 2
The three Priests have been without the Archbishop's leadership for seven years. His return is important to their spiritual well-being.
Part 1) What is the Priests' outlook on Becket's return? What is the opinion of the First Priest? The Second? The Third?
Part 2) Compare the similarities and differences between the individual opinions of the Priests and that of Becket's in regard to his return. What viewpoints do these people represent?
Part 3) Describe how Becket's return was important to these three men and how it reflects the needs of the community of Canterbury as a whole. What is his relationship to this group?
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?
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This section contains 488 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) |
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