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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 Creon advise Oedipus to do after the former relays the message from the murdered king?

2. Why is Creon sent away at the end of the first act of "Oedipus"?

3. How does Ulysses trick Andromache into revealing Astyanax's location?

4. What is significant about Polyxena being given a quick death?

5. What actions did the old shepherd perform before the beginning of "Oedipus"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pyrrhus demand for Achilles and why?

2. For what reasons do the Greeks want to sacrifice Astyanax?

3. Why do the Greeks cry when they take Astyanax?

4. How does Agamemnon view the dead Achilles?

5. Why is Creon reluctant to give Oedipus the information from Laius' ghost?

6. How and why does Jocasta commit suicide?

7. Describe Hecuba's mocking of the Greeks throughout "Troades."

8. Why is Oedipus summoned back to Corinth and why is he reluctant to go?

9. Why does Tiresias summon Laius' ghost?

10. In the first act of "Troades," for whom does Hecuba lead the grief-stricken chorus and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Oedipus," discuss the connection between vision and knowledge. Develop a clear thesis statement around this topic. Why is it significant that Tiresias is blind? What are some references to Oedipus being unable to see the truth? How is this related to the statement from Tiresias that "[Oedipus] wilt look with envy upon these ills for which thou seekest aid"? How does this ultimately relate to Oedipus blinding himself? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

What is significant about the roles love and hate play in Seneca's work? How is this embodied by Thyestes and Atreus? How does both hate and love appear to drive Nero from "Octavia"? What tends to be the result of any hate in these plays? What does this suggest about Seneca's views on society and people? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

In a brief essay, discuss the role that courage plays in "Troades." Develop a clear thesis statement and cite specific examples from the text to support your answers. Points to consider include (though not exclusively) Andromache's attempts to hide Astyanax, Hecuba's defiance and frequent insults to the Greeks, and the deaths of Astyanax and Polyxena.

(see the answer keys)

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