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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. How does Aristotle compare the medium of poetry and prose?

2. Aristotle explains that tragedy is not only concerned with the depiction of just any action, but of actions that inspire what?

3. Aristotle defines poetic work as what?

4. How does Aristotle say the different types of poetry emerged?

5. In art, Aristotle defines the medium as what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Is the unity of plot the same as the unity of a character's actions? Explain.

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

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

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

5. What does Aristotle say about plot in tragedy?

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

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

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

9. According to Aristotle, different types of poetry emerge from the personalities of different types of men. What are two examples Aristotle gives in relationship to personality of men and types of poetry?

10. Based on Aristotle's teachings, what does it mean when a plot is unified?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose one of the following to write about:

1) Based on your interpretation of "Poetics", compare the writing styles and balance of well written poetry versus poorly written poetry.

2) Discuss why a poet, according to Aristotle, must always be sure to keep the plots for his stories simple.

3) Compare history and poetry through the eyes of Aristotle. Explain the mistake many writers make when writing stories from history.

Essay Topic 2

The goal of tragedy, as explained by Aristotle, is to construct a plot that successfully inspires what in the spectator or reader? How should the actions depicted in the plot be chosen? How can the poet effectively inspire certain emotions to a great scale?

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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