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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 type of action does Aristotle say occurs with "Recognition" and/or "Reversal of Situation"?

2. What type of situation does Aristotle explain occurs more frequently in tragedy?

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

4. What type of story does Aristotle define as "episodic"?

5. What, as Aristotle states, are good poets forced to do when they write stories with episodic plots?

Short Essay Questions

1. Aristotle explains that the object which poetry portrays is men in action. How may poets differ in how they represent these men?

2. What does Aristotle say about the actions described in a tragic plot?

3. How does Aristotle classify or divide actions? Explain.

4. How does Aristotle define tragedy as a type of poetry?

5. What does Aristotle say the goal of tragedy is and how does he say good poetry accomplish this goal?

6. How does Aristotle define comedy as a type of poetry?

7. According to Aristotle, what is an example of a poor type of story and why?

8. According to Aristotle, how does the method of imitation differ?

9. Aristotle points out that good poets may also write episodic stories. What reason does he give?

10. What are two reasons Aristotle says that men are drawn to write poetry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aristotle teaches that the plot device of recognition can be divided into several kinds.

1) What types of recognition exist in tragedy?

2) What is the most effective form of recognition and why?

3) What is the least effective form of recognition and why?

Essay Topic 2

Choose one of the three options to write about:

1) Explain why men are drawn to write poetry based on Aristotle's "Poetics".

2) Explain how different types of poetry emerged based on Aristotle's "Poetics".

3) Compare comedy, tragedy, and epic poetry through the teachings of Aristotle.

Essay Topic 3

What reasons does Aristotle give regarding why the poet should be careful in picking the content for his poem? What types of stories are better fit for epic poems? Would you attempt to put Homer's "Iliad" in the format of a tragedy? Why?

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