Exam #1:
Ancient Greece
This exam will be based on everything covered in
lectures (including powerpoint presentations), class discussion, and reading
assignments from the beginning of the semester up to and including Friday,
Sept. 14, 2007.
PART I: STRUCTURAL DIAGRAM (10 points)
On a diagram, be able to label the parts of a Greek
theater or a Greek temple (be prepared for either).
PART II: CLOSE READING (20 points)
I will give you some brief excerpts from the primary
texts we have read so far:
- Thucydides, "Pericles' Funeral Oration" and "The
Plague," both from History of the Peloponnesian War
- Aristotle, The Poetics
- Sophocles, Antigone
For each, be able to identify it by author and
title and to write a paragraph setting it into context and commenting on the significance of the passage
for the study of ancient Greek civilization. The author and title must be
accurate and spelled correctly.
Here is an example. If I gave you this passage:
“There are certain advantages, I think, in our way
of meeting danger voluntarily, with an easy mind, instead of with a
laborious training, with natural rather than state-induced courage. We do
not have to spend our time practising to meet sufferings which are still
in the future; and when they are actually upon us we show ourselves just
as brave as these others who are always in strict training.”
And you wrote:
Thucydides, History of the
Peloponnesian War. In this excerpt from Pericles' “Funeral
Oration,” he contrasts the Athenian way of life to the Spartan, focusing
on the area of military training. He reminds the Athenians of what makes
them special and what distinguishes them from their enemies in order to
build their morale and inspire them to continue the war to preserve their
way of life.
you would get full credit.
Notice that the commentary does not describe the
History of the Peloponnesian War or even the "Funeral Oration" as a
whole; instead, it focuses on the specific passage provided.
PART III: IDENTIFICATIONS (20 points)
I will give you a list of five names, places, events,
or terms important for the study of ancient Greek civilization. Identify
four of them. This will involve stating who a person was and what he or she
did, defining a term, locating the person or thing in time and space, and
indicating its significance. Be concise, but give enough information to
distinguish the item from something else. Your score will depend on the
accuracy, completeness, and specificity of your answer. Here is an example:
Marathon: On the coast of Attica, it
was the location of a 490 B.C. battle in the First Persian War between the
Persians and the Athenian hoplite army. The Athenian victory removed the
Persian threat for ten years.
Notice that I included who did it (Persians and
Athenian hoplites), what they did (fought a battle), when they
did it (490 B.C., during the First Persian War), where they did it
(coast of Attica), and why it was significant (removed the Persian
threat for ten years). To make sure your answer is complete, remember the “5
Ws”!
PART IV: ESSAY (50 points)
I will give you 2 essay questions dealing with various
aspects of Greek civilization, including history, the theater, and the
visual arts. Choose one of them. You will be graded on how thoroughly,
accurately, and thoughtfully you answer the question and on how effectively
your essay is organized, supported, and written. |
