SparkNotes: The Libation Bearers: Quiz

Who of the following is not a member of the royal family of Argos?

(A) Clytamnestra

(B) Pylades

(C) Electra

(D) Orestes

Why did Clytamnestra send the serving women to Agamemnon's grave?

(A) Because she misses Agamemnon and wishes to pay respect to him

(B) Because Hermes instructed her to do so

(C) Because she was scared of a dream

(D) Because she wanted Electra and Orestes to reunite

Why does Electra not want to pray to her father to accept her mother's loving message?

(A) Because she is incapable of using the right words for this powerful love

(B) Because Agamemnon will be saddened by such prayers

(C) Because Aigisthos would be jealous if he knew that Clytamnestra still loved Agamemnon

(D) Because she refuses to offer a false prayer

Which of the following does Electra not pray for?

(A) That she may escape with Orestes into exile

(B) That Orestes may return to good fortune

(C) That the slayers should be slain in retribution

(D) That Hermes should summon the spirits who watch over the house

Why is the chorus interested in Electra's discovery?

(A) Because they are excited that she is finally thinking for herself

(B) Because they are interested in any evidence relating to Orestes

(C) Because Electra is always finding interesting things

(D) Because they think Clytamnestra might have left a lock of her hair

Which of the following is not one of the loves that Electra transfers upon Orestes?

(A) That which she used to have for Clytamnestra

(B) That which she used to have for Agamemnon

(C) That which she used to have for Zeus

(D) That which she would normally give to him as a brother

Which of these is not a token of recognition between Orestes and Electra?

(A) A tightly woven net

(B) Footsteps

(C) A lock of hair

(D) A piece of embroidery

Which of the following does Orestes not state as a reason behind his quest for vengeance?

(A) Apollo threatens to make him pay for the muderers' crimes himself if he does not kill them

(B) The Furies will come after him with burning eyes

(C) He has been deprived of his inheritance

(D) He must protect Electra from their scheming mother

Why did Orestes decide to return home in the first place?

(A) Because he had terrible nightmares about the murder of his father

(B) Because Apollo commanded him to do so

(C) Because Electra sent word to him in secret

(D) Because the Furies chased him to Agamemnon's grave

What does Orestes wish had happened to his father?

(A) That he had been lost at sea, so that he would never have suffered at Clytamnestra's hands

(B) That he at least been able to kill Aigisthos before he died

(C) That he had died at Troy

(D) That he had never gone to Troy

What does Electra wish had happened instead of her father's murder?

(A) That Clytamnestra and Aigisthos had been killed first

(B) That Apollo had rescued him before Clytamnestra could kill him

(C) That he had never returned from Troy, so that he could live at least in exile

(D) That the chorus had been able to warn him of Clytamnestra's plots

Which of the following does the chorus not say is the will of justice?

(A) That a word of hate be returned for a word of hate

(B) That a lie be spoken in retribution for a lie

(C) That the one who acts must be acted upon in the same way

(D) That a bloody stroke be repaid with another bloody stroke

Orestes uses all of the following reasons to convince Agamemnon to help him except which?

(A) He should help him because of the bond they share as father and son

(B) If he does not help him, he will not get any good feasts

(C) Because his murderers chained him like a beast

(D) Because he did not die a royal death, he should help his son attain the throne

Which of the following was not a possible result of Orestes and Electra's prayers?

(A) Agamemnon could have arisen from the grave

(B) Agamemnon could have stayed in Hades, but send his spirit to help his children

(C) Agamemnon could have killed Clytamnestra himself

(D) The furies could have been summoned to watch over this next murder

What is significant about Clytamnestra's dream?

(A) The snake is the royal symbol of the house of Atreus

(B) The snake strangles her to death in the dream, recalling how she strangled Agamemnon

(C) Orestes means snake in Greek

(D) The snake is the child of Clytamnestra and bites her still, just as Orestes will 'bite' her

Which one of the following is not part of Orestes' plan?

(A) Orestes will speak Parnassan when he approaches the palace gate

(B) Orestes will call for the queen of the house, so he can be sure to confront his mother

(C) Orestes will dress like a stranger

(D) Orestes will seek out Aigisthos and kill him before he can ask who he is

Which of the following does the chorus not give as a mythological allegory to Clytamnestra?

(A) Scylla

(B) Nisus

(C) The people of Lemnos

(D) Althaia

Why are these mythological women's crimes particularly abhorrent?

(A) Because these women violate the hearth, which should be the safest place on earth for a man

(B) Because these women kill men before Zeus has ordained that they should die

(C) Because these women kill by cunning, whereas they should kill nobly, with the sword

(D) Because these women are not swayed by emotion, killing by logic alone

How does Orestes's reception at the palace door conflict with his expectations?

(A) Clytamnestra does not recognize him

(B) Electra does not open the door

(C) Clytamnestra greets him at the door

(D) Clytamnestra laments his news that Orestes is dead

Which of the following is not an important piece of information that the nurse conveys to the audience?

(A) That Orestes is dead and can no longer save the house

(B) That Clytamnestra instructed Aigisthos to bring his guard with him

(C) That she alone raised Orestes from birth

(D) That Clytamnestra did not truly grieve when she heard of Orestes' death

To which of the following deities does the chorus not pray when wishing for Orestes's success?

(A) Hermes

(B) Apollo

(C) The Furies

(D) The house spirits

Which divine force plays a role in blinding Aigisthos and Clytamnestra to Orestes's true identity?

(A) Zeus

(B) Hermes

(C) Apollo

(D) Athena

Which of the following does Clytamnestra not give as a justification for her questionable acts?

(A) Agamemnon brought home a concubine, Cassandra, thus violating their marriage vows

(B) Agamemnon was away from home for a long time, thus forcing Clytamnestra to take a lover

(C) Destiny forced her to kill Agamemnon

(D) Agamemnon had his own failings, i.e. murdering her daughter, Iphigineia

Which of the following does the bloody robe displayed at the end of the play not represent?

(A) The web of lies with which Clytamnestra entrapped Agamemnon

(B) The body of Agamemnon himself

(C) Evidence of Clytamnestra and Aigisthos' crimes

(D) The altar upon which the sacrifice of Agamemnon was committed

Where does Orestes flee to at the end of the play?

(A) To his father's grave

(B) To the temple of Zeus

(C) To Delphi

(D) To the family's ancestral home

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