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. What is significant about Hecuba's exit at the end of the play?

2. Who is Creon?

3. Why do the Greeks fear Hector's son?

4. About what does Hector warn Andromache in a dream?

5. Who is Hecuba?

Short Essay Questions

1. How and why does Jocasta commit suicide?

2. For what reasons does Agamemnon claim to forgo sacrificing a maiden?

3. Why is Creon sent to Delphi and what does he learn?

4. How did Oedipus become king of Thebes?

5. Why does Tiresias summon Laius' ghost?

6. Why does Oedipus imprison Creon in the third act?

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

8. Why are the Greeks unable to leave Troy in the beginning of "Troades"?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the uniqueness of Seneca's language in the following format:

Part 1) The black humor of "Thyestes."

Part 2) Monologues.

Part 3) Lack of dialogue.

Part 4) Expressive, emotional descriptions.

Part 5) Character development or lack thereof.

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

Discuss the circular nature of playwrights influencing each other through authors such as Seneca in the following format:

Part 1) The original versions of these plays.

Part 2) The differences between the original play and Seneca's version.

Part 3) The "revenge play."

Part 4) The use of ghosts.

Part 5) The introduction of onstage violence.

Cite specific examples from Seneca's work to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,099 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample