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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section II.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Aristotle identify as a poet's medium?
(a) Spiritual inspiration.
(b) Language and heart.
(c) Language and passion.
(d) Language.

2. In the context of poetry and according to Aristotle's teachings, why is man naturally attracted to imitation?
(a) It is through imitation that man most easily learns.
(b) Imitation is less expensive.
(c) It is a lot of fun.
(d) Imitation is a form of acting.

3. The plot, as Aristotle explains, should be unified in such a way that each part should be what?
(a) Necessary to the whole.
(b) Equivalent.
(c) Trivial.
(d) Necessary to other parts, but not to the whole.

4. What type of stories does Aristotle identify as more fit for epic poems than tragedies?
(a) Stories that are shorter and to the point.
(b) Stories with happy endings.
(c) Stories that give true historical accounts.
(d) Stories of considerably greater length and scope.

5. What does Aristotle believe to be the goal of tragedy?
(a) To inspire anger.
(b) To inspire pity.
(c) To inspire fear.
(d) To inspire fear and pity.

Short Answer Questions

1. Concerning the "laws of probability and necessity," what statement below is NOT correct according to Aristotle's teachings in "Poetics"?

2. When an evil character of a tragic story is suddenly thrust into misfortune, it has been said that this satisfies the moral sense of the audience, but Aristotle asserts that the misfortune does not inspire what?

3. In a good tragedy as defined by Aristotle, why wouldn't you see two evil men fighting and killing one another?

4. What reason does Aristotle give for Homer excluding many things that Odysseus does on his voyage home in the "Odyssey"?

5. What is one of the requirements Aristotle mentions for a good tragic plot?

(see the answer key)

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