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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 does Patroclus take with him when he leaves Phthia?

2. Why does Peleus take in exiled boys?

3. What does Patroclus father offer Tyndareus for his daughter’s hand?

4. How does Deidameia treat Patroclus when she interviews him?

5. Why does Achilles stop doing his drills when Patroclus enters?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Chiron’s role in Achilles and Patroclus’ lives?

2. How does the news of the war find Achilles and Patroclus on Scyros?

3. What is Patroclus’ first impression of Achilles?

4. Why does Deidameia accuse Achilles of being ‘apathos,’ or heartless?

5. What is Patroclus’ status at the opening of the novel?

6. How does Patroclus come to kill the boy whose death gets him exiled?

7. Describe Patroclus’ decision to leave Peleus’ home.

8. What question does Odysseus pose to Tyndareus, to complicate the suits for Helen’s hand?

9. How does Patroclus end up fighting Achilles, and what is the outcome?

10. Describe Deidameia’s relationship with Patroclus.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Use this book to evaluate the five-star rating system typically used for books. Is a five-star system sufficient to a book like this? Would you need to have sub-topics for the rating system, for plot, characterization, language, etc? What other sub-topics would you need? What value or importance gets lost in a five-star scale? Design a scale that would be better for this book.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the role of women in The Song of Achilles. How are they portrayed? What traits distinguish them from the men? What flexibility do the female characters have, to change how they are perceived, or to exceed the rules for women?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the difference between Achilles and Agamemnon’s characters. How are they similar, how are they different? What are the essential differences between them? Are these two characters who ultimately need each other, or are they the type of people who need to be kept apart for danger of conflict and potential tragedy?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 881 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample