Mabie
AES
Euripides/Greek Unit
IB/AP English 11
Name:_________________________________ Period:________ Date:___________________
-Euripides/Greek Drama Test73 Points Possible
Euripides and His Times: 12 Points Possible
Directions: Provide the correct response to each prompt by circling the correct answer.
1) Euripides was born:
A)
B)
C)
D)
480 BC
1080 BC
380 BC
80 AD
2) True
False
Euripides came from a poor family.
3) An oracle said that Euripides would one day:
A)
B)
C)
D)
Climb Mount Olympus
Win many awards at a drama festival
Conquer all of the Mediterranean
Win a crown of victory for something
4) True
False
Euripides collected a large library of hand-written pieces.
5) The following word best characterizes Euripides:
A)
B)
C)
D)
introverted
extroverted
garrulous
imminent
6) True
False
Euripides failed at marriage.
7) True
False
Euripides was lauded by all and very popular in his time.
8) Considering the time in history that Euripides wrote, the following best characterizes his tragedies:
A)
B)
C)
D)
forgettable
lethargic
insipid
unpredictable
-210) True
False
Euripides was buried in his homeland.
11) True
False
Euripides enjoyed more popularity in death than in life.
12) From the Golden Age of Greek Drama, more plays survive today from this famous playwright than
the other tragedians of note:
A)
B)
C)
D)
Euripides
Aeschylus
Sophocles
Mabiocles
Greek Drama Terms Crossword Puzzle: 18 Points Possible
Directions: Read each prompt below. Write the correct literary term in the space provided on the crossword puzzle.
.25 will be deducted for each misspelled word. Of course, zero points will be awarded for empty fields; consequently,
it is better to guess at a word, even if you are not sure of its spelling. For phrases consisting of two words, do not add
a space between them; simply write the two words together.
Down:
1) Literally, “god from the machine,” it was a crane for lifting actors portraying gods onto the stage; it also means
any forced or artificial device introduced by an author to solve a difficult problem with the resolution of a plot.
2) A choral ode that comes at the end of each episode. It serves as a transition between episodes and
offers commentary on the preceding episode, keeping the audience “in the loop.”
3) The error, misstep, frailty, or flaw that causes the downfall of the hero of a tragedy.
4) The final action that brings a play, particularly a tragedy, to its conclusion.
5) Imitation: The Greek notion that literature is an imitation of life, of things “as they are, as they are
thought to be, as they ought to be.”
6) The quality of a work of art or literature that arouses feelings of sympathy.
7) The ceremonial exit of all the players.
Across:
6) A serious work of fiction, especially a drama, that presents the downfall of its protagonist, a person
“better than ourselves,” who through some error in judgement, weakness of character, or twist of fate
suffers crushing defeat or death.
7) A wealthy Athenian patron of drama who funds productions of plays and often is honored with small parts in
the productions that he pays for.
8) a division of a play where the plot is developed through action and dialogue between the actors with
the chorus sometimes taking a minor role.
9) A person neither entirely good nor entirely evil, who is led by some tragic flaw, or hamartia, to commit
an act that results in suffering and utter defeat.
10) The entrance of the chorus, usually chanting a lyric which bears some relation to the main theme of
the play.
11) In Greek Drama, a group of characters whose lines, originally sung, comment on the action of each
episode or serve as a break between episodes.
12) The opening scene, in which the background of the story is established, usually by a single actor or in
a dialogue between two actors.
13) Knowledge which comes through suffering.
14) “Pride”—one of the most common tragic flaws.
15) An “emotion explosion.” According to Aristotle, the power of tragedy to purge the emotions of pity
and fear that its incidents have aroused.
16) Another word for tragic flaw; the error, misstep, frailty, or flaw that causes the downfall of a tragic hero.
-3-
-4Jason and the Golden Fleece: 15 Points Possible
Directions: Read this incomplete rendition of Jason and the Golden Fleece. Where there is an empty space, write in
the correct word to complete the thought.
A long time ago…
Phryxus arrived at Colchis on a flying golden ________________. He sacrificed this animal to _________________
and gave its coat, or Golden Fleece, to Aeetes, the king of Colchis. At around the same time, King Aeson of Iolchus was giving
up his throne to his ambitious brother, Pelias, on the condition that Pelias give up the throne to Aeson’s son, Jason, when Jason
came of age. Not trusting Pelias, Jason’s mother sent Jason away to be raised in anonymity. Indeed, Pelias was suspicious for a
prophecy said that one day his death would be cause by a stranger wearing just one ___________________.
Once Jason came of age, he set out to claim his throne in Iolchus. Along the way, he came to a river across which he
helped what appeared to be an “old woman”; in fact, this was truly the goddess ___________________. As Jason crossed the
river, the swift current carried away his ____________________. Once across, Jason discovered who he had been carrying and
realized that he had gained a godly friend.
Pelias was, of course, distraught when Aeson’s son, Jason showed up for the throne missing a certain garment. Pelias
suggested that Jason take a trip and accomplish a task before taking the throne; accomplishing this task would prove that Jason
was worthy of being King of Iolchus, said Pelias. Pelias lied and said that King Aeetes of Colchis had stolen the Golden Fleece
and that Jason should return it to Greece. Unaware of the lie, Jason agreed to accomplish the task. He commissioned the
building of a ship from the master shipbuilder, ___________________ . The ship was named after him, and those who sailed
on it would be called _______________________. The most famous (strongman) sailor to join Jason’s crew was named
________________________.
Jason and his sailors enjoyed many adventures as they traveled. For example, Jason helped King Phineas of Thrace
with a small problem. Zeus was punishing Phineas in an unusual way. Every time __________________ was place in front of
Phineas, winged mythological creatures named ____________________ would swoop down and steal it. Two of Jason’s men
scared away these creatures so that they dared never return. In gratitude, Phineas explained how Jason could sail safely past two
great clashing _____________________ that guarded the entrance to the Black Sea. Jason and his crew negotiated the obstacle
by releasing a __________________ that flew through the passage in front of the ship. It worked.
Upon reaching Colchis, King Aeetes told Jason that he could only earn the Golden Fleece by farming a field before
sundown with a pair of huge, fire-breathing _____________________ with razor-sharp brazen hooves. Jason thought he was
doomed. But, Hera favored Jason and instructed _____________________, the goddess of love, to have Eros (Cupid) shoot
Medea in the heart with an arrow of love; Medea instantly fell in love with Jason. Medea, a sorceress, helped Jason to
-5accomplish the task. Ultimately, Medea even helped Jason steal the Golden Fleece from her own father. Such is the power of
Eros’ love-tipped arrows.
In fact, Medea was so crazed with love that as Aeetes pursued Jason’s ship, Medea (now a passenger on the Jason’s
ship) did something unspeakable to slow down her father. She cut up and spread throughout the sea her own
____________________ as they fled. Aeetes had to slow to collect the pieces and give this person a proper burial.
Medea’s love for and loyalty to Jason was unquestionably, savagely intense. Upon their return to Iolchus, they married.
Medea then helped orchestrate the murder of Pelias so that Jason could take the throne. All was well until Jason wanted to
“trade in” Medea and their children for a younger wife.
And thus begins Euripides’ tragedy…
The Basic Structure of a Classical Greek Tragedy: 5 Points Possible
Directions: These five parts of a typical, ancient Greek Tragedy occur in a particular order. Using numbers 1, 2, 3, 4
and 5, show the correct order of these parts of a Greek Tragedy.
______ Parodos
______ Exodos
______ Stasimon
______ Episode
______ Prologue
Origins of the Greek Theater. The Chorus, Costumes and Acting: 16 Points Possible
Directions: Read each prompt and offer the correct response by circling the correct answer or filling in the blank
where appropriate.
1) Dionysus is the God of:
A) fire
B) death
C) wine
D) love
2) True
False
The four annual festivals for Dionysus largely centered on agricultural
cycles.
3) True
False
At the early festivals for Dionysus, men drank, partied and dressed up like
virile bulls.
-64) The word, tragedy, is translated as follows:
Tragos: _____________________
Ode:________________________
5) True
False
These festivals, while rowdy and raucous, also had a serious religious side to
them.
6) The fledgling start of drama, as we know it today, included a _____________________, made up of
fifty men singing hymns to Dionysus and dancing in a circle.
7) ______________________ is usually credited with the introduction of the first actor.
8) __________________ is credited with first writing tragedy as we know it today.
A)
B)
C)
D)
Sophocles
Aeschylus
Euripides
Mabicus
9) By the time Greek Tragedy matures in the fifth century BC, the festivals no longer just included drunk
men dancing around and acting like animals. By this time, on three successive mornings, three
competing dramatists would present tetralogies consisting of three tragedies and one humorous play
called a _______________________.
10) True
False
Attending tragedies was a civic obligation.
11) As tragedy matures, this becomes less important:
A)
B)
C)
D)
Actors
The Chorus
Episodes
Meaning
12) True
False
The chorus could be both within the play and outside of it (both “actor”
and spectator), explaining and commenting on dramatic action.
13) True
False
Colors in costuming during ancient Greek times served specific symbolic
functions.
14) The following aspect of ancient Greek costuming today symbolizes the theater itself:
A)
B)
C)
D)
Goat fur
The color red
Buckskin
Masks
-715) True
False
Acting was not as important as athletics as far as competition was
concerned.
16) True
False
Stars of the Greek Stage were not taken very seriously.
The Theater: 7 Points Possible
Directions: Look at the drawing of an ancient Greek Theater below. Write the names of each theater part next to the
corresponding lettered spaces. Use words from the word bank below.