View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does the second duel, between Hector and Ajax, end?

2. How many men does Achilles kill on his first day in battle?

3. How do the Trojans’ successes in battle affect the Greeks’ morale?

4. What does Patroclus spend hours each day doing among the captives?

5. What does Achilles say he needs Agamemnon to do in order to fix the rift between them?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Patroclus’ experience of fighting?

2. What is Achilles and Patroclus’ relationship with Hector like?

3. Describe the tension that is created in the meeting between Achilles and Agamemnon.

4. How does Achilles react to Patroclus’ death?

5. Why do the Greeks adopt the strategy of raiding around Troy instead of negotiating?

6. What are Patroclus’ feelings during the crisis over Chriseis and Briseis?

7. How does Achilles’ relationship to Hector change?

8. Whati s Achilles’ reaction to Patroclus’ interview with Agamemnon?

9. Patroclus recalls Chiron saying that no man’s life is worth more than another’s. How does he settle the questions this philosophical statement raises, in light of Achilles’ conflict with Agamemnon?

10. Why does Patroclus ask Achilles to claim Briseis?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is missing from this book? What should have been covered or presented that was not? What is the effect of this absence? Describe an element that ought to have been covered, and explain why it would have made the book stronger.

Essay Topic 2

Evaluate your own reading of The Song of Achilles—did you resist it, or were you compelled by the story? What does your reading tell you about yourself and your interests? Use specific examples from the book to describe yourself as a reader.

Essay Topic 3

How would you rewrite The Song of Achilles, if you were to adapt it and make it your own. What part of the book would you preserve? What part would you change? Explain your motivation for the changes you would make.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 894 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample