Greek gods
1. The gods in Greek mythology reside and convene where?
a) Valhalla b) Midgaurd c) Hades d) Mount Olympus
2. Which is NOT true of the goddess Thetis?
a) she had an affair with Zeus b) she raised Hephaestus c) she is the mother of Achilles d) she is queen of the nymphs
3. This goddess is Zeus’ sister/wife.
a) Thetis b) Athena c) Hera d) Aphrodite
4. This goddess had an affair with the god of war behind her husband’s back.
a) Thetis b) Athena c) Hera d) Aphrodite
5. This god killed his father to become ruler of Olympus.
a) Zeus b) Poseidon c) Cronus d) Rhea
6. This jovial god left Olympus to find perfect ingredients for wine.
a) Hades b) Hermes c) Dionysus d) Hephaestus e) Ares
7. Although he is an Olympian, this god of death resides in the underworld.
a) Hades b) Hermes c) Dionysus d) Hephaestus e) Ares
8. He is the god of metalwork and designed Achilles’ shield and armor.
a) Hades b) Hermes c) Dionysus d) Hephaestus e) Ares
9. He is the messenger god, distinguished by his winged sandals.
a) Hades b) Hermes c) Dionysus d) Hephaestus e) Ares
10. Which of these is not a child of Zeus?
a) Apollo b) Ares c) Herekles d) Achilles
The Iliad
11. This goddess favored the Greek army and scorned Zeus for favoring the Trojans.
a) Athena b) Thetis c) Hera d) Aphrodite
12. Why does Achiles refuse to fight in the Trojan war?
a) he does not believe in the cause b) he was tired of killing c) Agamenón stole his prize from war d) he doesn’t stop fighting
13. This god opposed Achilles because Achilles desecrated his temple.
a) Zeus b) Mercury c) Poseidon d) Cronus e) Apollo
14. This woman’s face “launched 1000 ships,” i.e. caused the Trojan War.
a) Helen of Troy b) Chysius c) Bryssius d) Thetis
15. His body was dragged behind Achilles’ chariot but would not deteriorate.
a) Hektor b) Achilles c) Patroklus d) Agamemnon e) Odysseus
16. He wore Achilles armor into battle and died when Achilles refused to fight.
a) Hektor b) Achilles c) Patroklus d) Agamemnon e) Odysseus
17. He devised the plan for the “Trojan Horse.”
a) Hektor b) Achilles c) Patroklus d) Agamemnon e) Odysseus
18. His death prompted Achilles to re-enter the war.
a) Hektor b) Agamemnon c) Odysseus d) Patroklus
Oedipus Rex
19. Which is not a part of Oedipus’ destiny according to the play?
a) that he will leave his kingdom b) that he will lay with his mother c) that he will kill his father d) that he will take his father’s thrown
20. What is Oedipus’ internal flaw that causes his downfall?
a) Pride b) Avarice (greed) c) Gluttony d) Lust
21. What is the name of Oedipus’ wife?
a) Antigone b) Thetis c) Brysius d) Jocasta
Gilgamesh
22. What story from the Torah is also recounted in Gilgamesh?
a) The story of Creation b) David and Goliath c) Sodom and Gomorra d) Noah and the flood
23. Who was Gilgamesh’s mother?
a) Ninsun b) Enkidu c) Ishtar d) Hera
24. According to the text, what “civilized” Enkidu?
a) wine b) sex c) a hunter’s trap d) knowledge
25. Urshanabi (the Ferryman) in Gilgamesh is most closely associated with what mythological hero?
a) Herekles b) Odysseus c) Achilles d) Noah
26. In Gilgamesh, Humbaba is a:
a) dwarf b) warrior c) giant d) soothsayer
27. What is the name of the female god that Gilgamesh denied?
a) Ishtar b) Helen c) Thetis d) Beatrice
28. Why did Gilgamesh have to fight the Bullfrom Heaven?
a) because Isthar summoned it to kill him b) becasue he wanted the glory c) because he wanted to eat it d) because it belonged to Humbaba
29. How does Enkidu die?
a) from a plague b) from old age c) in battle d) suicide
30. How does Gilgamesh die?
a) in battle b) from a plague c) suicide d) the story does not say
31. What does Enkidu eat before he is civilized?
a) grass and milk b) beer and wine c) raw meat d) he doesn’t eat
32. After Enkidu lays with the harlet what happens?
a) his herd runs from him b) he has a horrible dream c) he returns to the forrest d) he sneaks out before she awakens
The Inferno
33. In the Inferno, which of these characters is NOT in the outer circle of hell?
a) Socrates b) Virgil c) Helen d) Ceasar
34. Which of the following reasons did NOT place people in the outer circle of hell?
a) committing suicide b) not being baptized c) not being Christian d) not taking a stand for God
35. The occupants of the second circle of hell committed what sin?
a) sins of greed b) sins of anger c) sins of sloth d) sins of the flesh
36. In the Inferno, the poet’s guide is:
a) Homer b) Virgil c) Socrates d) Plato
37. Who frees Virgil to guide the poet through the Inferno?
a) God b) Satan c) Socrates d) Beatrice
38. Which of these is not an animal the poet encounters before he enters hell?
a) a goat b) a lion c) a leopard d) a she-wolf
39. Who suffers more than any other soul in hell?
a) Jesus b) Moses c) Satan d) Judas
40. Virgil informs the poet that Jesus took Moses, David, and other good people into heaven. Why were they in hell?
a) they were unfaithful b) they were arrogant c) they wanted to be there d) they were born with original sin
41. In Dante’s life, Italy was divided between what two political groups?
a) the blues and the greens b) the yellows and the oranges c) the blacks and the whites d) the greys and the reds.
42. In the Inferno, explain the following line, “…I had lost the path that does not stray?’
a) the path is dark b) the poet has sinned c) the poet has fallen into a forest d) the poet is blind
43. How does Minos determine the fate of the soul he judges?
a) by weighing them on a scale b) by asking them to solve a riddle c) by eating them d) by wrapping his tail around himself
44. How many faces does Satan have in the Inferno?
a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 6
The Qur’an
45. According to Islam, who is the final prophet?
a) Moses b) Jesus c) Muhammed d) Solomon
46. When Jesus is born, who speaks on Mary’s behalf?
a) Mary b) Joseph c) Jesus d) Moses
47. How old was Muhammed when he had his first revelation?
a) teens b) twenties c) thirties d) forties e) fifties
48. According to the Qur’an, what was Jesus?
a) a man b) a prophet c) the messiah d) Allah e) a and b
49. What bird showed Cain how to bury Abel?
a) a raven b) a dove c) a sparrow d) a hawk
50. Which is not forbidden food according to the Qur’an?
a) carrion b) pig’s meat c) strangled animals d) what your trained birds have caught
51. Which of the following is not forbidden by the Qur’an?
a) gambling b) intoxicants c) idolatrous practices d) all are forbidden by the Qur’an
52. Which angel spoke to Mohammad?
a) Michael b) Raphael c) Gabriel d) Azrael
General application questions
53. Oedipus Rex was written by:
a) Homer b) Virgil c) Sappho d) Sophocles e) Plato
54. The Illiad and The Odyssey were written by:
a) Homer b) Virgil c) Sappho d) Sophocles e) Plato
55. The Apology was written by:
a) Homer b) Virgil c) Sappho d) Sophocles e) Plato
56. Which of the following is the best example of a “tragic hero” according to Aristotle?
a) Achilles b) Gilgamesh c) Oedipus d) Odysseus
57. Which is NOT a characteristic of a tragic hero?
a) death b) greatness c) internal flaw d) epiphany
58. Which of these is the best example of intelligence versus brutishness?
a) Enkidu v. Gilgamesh b) Hektor v. Potroklos c) Achilles v. Ajax d) Odysseus v. Polyphemus
59. According to your notes, what is NOT a reason women portrayed negatively in ancient literature?
a) Becasue they were seen as equals b) becasue only men wrote the stories c) becasue women were not seen as equal to men d) because men write in a world populated by men
60. He is the blind prophet in both the Odyssey and in Oedipus Rex.
a) Creon b) Agamemnon c) Great Ajax d) Tiresias e) Priam
61. Which is the correct chronological order from teacher to student?
a) Plato, Socrates, Aristotle b) Aristotle, Plato, Socrates c) Socrates, Aristotle, Plato d) Socrates, Plato Aristotle e) Aristotle, Socrates, Plato
62. What is the difference between what is stated by a character or narrator and what the audience knows is true?
a) sarcasm b) hyperbole c) agape d) irony
63) What is NOT a religion descended from Solomon
a) Buddism b) Christianity c) Judaism d) Islam