SparkNotes: Poetics: Quiz

Which of the following is NOT a distinctive feature of poetry?

(A) It uses language

(B) It uses rhythm

(C) It is written in verse

(D) It uses harmony

Which of the following contains a mix of direct and indirect narrative?

(A) Tragedy

(B) Comedy

(C) Homeric epic

(D) Dithyrambic poetry

Which of the following is not "art" in the Greek sense of the word?

(A) Tragedy

(B) A spear

(C) A table

(D) A peacock's feather

Which of the following is NOT a reason for why we like imitations?

(A) We learn from imitations

(B) Imitations exercise our reason

(C) We are not repelled by imitations of things we would normally find repellent

(D) There is a sense of safety in not having to deal with reality

Which of the following was the last to evolve?

(A) Tragedy

(B) Dithyramb

(C) Epic poetry

(D) Invective

Which of the following is not one of the "three unities"?

(A) Unity of action

(B) Unity of character

(C) Unity of place

(D) Unity of time

Which is the only unity that Aristotle insists upon?

(A) Unity of action

(B) Unity of character

(C) Unity of place

(D) Unity of time

Which of the following is the most important?

(A) Character

(B) Diction

(C) Plot

(D) Harmony

Which of the following is the least important?

(A) Character

(B) Plot

(C) Thought

(D) Spectacle

Which of the following is NOT a part of Aristotle's definition of tragedy?

(A) It arouses pity and fear

(B) It has an unhappy ending

(C) It involves mimesis

(D) It is performed rather than narrated

Which of the following genres has the same plot structure as tragedy?

(A) Epic poetry

(B) History

(C) Biography

(D) Episodic storytelling

Which of the following has an episodic structure?

(A) Biography

(B) History

(C) Both

(D) Neither

A complex plot must contain:

(A) Peripeteia

(B) Anagnorisis

(C) Both

(D) Either

Which of the following is NOT necessary to all tragedies?

(A) Exode

(B) Commos

(C) Parode

(D) Episode /WRONG/ Which is the best kind of tragic plot? A harmful deed is done knowingly A harmful deed is done in ignorance A harmful deed is avoided knowingly A harmful deed is premeditated in ignorance, but a discovery helps prevent it Which is the worst kind of tragic plot? A harmful deed is done knowingly A harmful deed is done in ignorance A harmful deed is avoided knowingly A harmful deed is premeditated in ignorance, but a discovery helps prevent it Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a tragic hero? The hero must be good The hero must be male The hero's character must be consistent The hero must be of high social status Which is the worst kind of anagnorisis? Recognition by means of signs or marks Recognition prompted by memory Recognition through deductive reasoning Recognition that arises through the structure of the plot Which is the best kind of anagnorisis? Recognition by means of signs or marks Recognition prompted by memory Recognition through deductive reasoning Recognition that arises through the structure of the plot Which of the following is not within the domain of thought? Exciting emotion with a powerful speech Exhibiting shyness through hunched posture Persuading someone by means of logic Blowing a problem out of proportion by means of exaggeration Which of the following is not a metaphor? "That's as likely as a cold day in July" "Juliet is the sun" "I'm a race car in the red" "My love is a red, red rose." Which of the following is not a feature of epic poetry? Unity of plot A noble hero Iambic meter It is narrated Which of the following is NOT true of epic poetry? It's longer than tragedy It can portray more isolated incidents than tragedy It can get away with presenting less probable events than those presented in tragedy It is a more impressive spectacle than watching tragedy Which of the following is not an acceptable reason for including impossible or improbable events in a poem? The poet is portraying things as the ought to be, not as they are The poet is portraying things according to public opinion They are necessary to make the plot work They add to the astonishment and excitement of the story Which of the following is NOT a reason given by Aristotle to prefer tragedy over epic poetry? Exaggerated gestures can add something in performance Tragedy contains music and spectacle There is more unity in tragedy Tragedy is shorter and more compact