Poetics by Aristotle (MCQs)

MCQs from Aristotle "Poetics"

Quiz

  

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1. How does Aristotle differentiate poetry from prose?
   1.   Poetry uses language alone.
   2.   Poetry uses rhythm in the form of meter.
   3.   Prose uses pictures and music.
   4.   They are the same
2. How does Aristotle say the different types of poetry emerged?
   1.   From nonfiction.
   2.   Peers voted on their preferences.
   3.   From the personalities of different types of men
   4.   The most talented poets decided on the different types
3. What does Aristotle identify as the most essential element of tragedy?
   1.   Rhyme.
   2.   Plot.
   3.   Character.
   4.   Irony.
4. Per Aristotle, the unity if plot is what to the unity of character's actions?
   1.   Equivalent.
   2.   Irrelevant
   3.   Not equivalent, but often closely related.
   4.   Influential, but not important.
5. What does Aristotle call the individual episodes of a story with an episode plot?
   1.   Isolated stories.
   2.   Dependent stories.
   3.   Interesting.
   4.   Funny.
6. Aristotle explains that tragedy is not only concerned with the depiction of just any action, but of actions that inspire what?
   1.   Resentment.
   2.   Happiness.
   3.   Pity.
   4.   Anger.
7. What type of action does Aristotle say occurs without "Recognition" or "Reversal of Situation"?
   1.   Simple
   2.   Sad
   3.   Good
   4.   Incongruent.
8. In poetry, what is the term Aristotle gives for an action that aims to accomplish a certain goal, but actually accomplishes the opposite?
   1.   Irony
   2.   Failure
   3.   Reversal of situation
   4.   Tragedy
9. What, as Aristotle states, are good poets forced to do when they write stories with episo die plots?
   1.   To lengthen their stories.
   2.   To shorten their stories.
   3.   To write bettter.
   4.   To write poorly.
10. What is history according to Aristotle?
    1.   Lies.
    2.   Accounts that may or may not have happened.
    3.   Concerned simply with facts.
    4.   Rumours promoted as truth
11. In poetry, Aristotle says that in the "Odyssey" recognition comes about how?
    1.   The suitors recognize him by his face.
    2.   Penelope recognizes his walk.
    3.   Odysseus's nurse recognizes him from his scar.
    4.   None of the answers is correct.
12. In the tragedy, how does Aristotle say the element of surprise should come about?
    1.   Gradually.
    2.   Only after recognition hits occurred.
    3.   Once the main character has demonstrated his worth and morals.
    4.   Consistent with the principles of probability and necessity.
13. When a poet presents the poem in the voice of one of the characters, what method does Aristotle say that the poet is using?
    1.   The method of third person.
    2.   The method of imitation.
    3.   The method of first person.
    4.   The method of recognition.
14. In art, what does Aristotle believe to be the object?
    1.   Usually a person.
    2.   Something solid.
    3.   Usually an animal.
    4.   What the art imitates.
15. What two things does Aristotle requires to be present in a well-written story?
    1.   Birth and death
    2.   Irony and foreshadowing.
    3.   Rhythm and harmony
    4.   Conflict and pain
16. Concerning what Aristotle says about the conclusion of a tragedy, which of the following statements is False?
    1.   The story can end happily.
    2.   The characters always resolve the issues and harmony is restored.
    3.   The characters can conquer the problem.
    4.   The problem can conquer the characters and the story ends unhappily.
17. Aristotle warns that a tragedy poet should be careful with what?
    1.   The poet should be careful not to write a happy ending.
    2.   Writing the middle, as it is the most important part of a tragedy.
    3.   Choosing ironic events.
    4.   Picking the content for the poem.
18. What does Aristotle say about Homer's "Iliad"?
    1.   It lacks pity.
    2.   It reminds him of a bad story.
    3.   It would not work in the format of a tragedy.
    4.   It should be more tragic.
19. What does Aristotle identify as a poet's medium?
    1.   Language and heart.
    2.   Language and passion.
    3.   Language.
    4.   Spiritual inspiration.
20. Based on Aristotle's techings about tragedy, how can the poet unify the plot?
    1.   Establishing clear relationships between actions the rest of the plot.
    2.   Use complete sentences.
    3.   Use more verbs.
    4.   Develop characters who behave in a believable manner.
21. Aristotle explains that the complication accomplishes what?
    1.   It evokes pity.
    2.   It draws the reader in with the suspense of how the problem will be resolved, if it ever is.
    3.   It ties the beginning to the end.
    4.   It gives the reader a sense of resolution.
22. According to Aristotle, why do the greatest tragedy poets always choose characters that belongs to such groups?
    1.   An educated character is more believable.
    2.   A moral character is more believable.
    3.   A character with few friends is more interesting.
    4.   A fall from such a great height will impress the spectator.
23. In a good tragedy, Aristotle explains that the misfortune the main character experiences is usually caused by what?
    1.   The character's weakness.
    2.   Stupidity.
    3.   Misguided love.
    4.   The character's arrogance.
24. What does Aristotle believe to be the goal of tragedy?
    1.   To inspire pity.
    2.   To inspire anger.
    3.   To inspire fear and pity.
    4.   To inspire fear
25. When an evil character of a tragic story is suddenly thrust into misfortune, it has been said that this satisfies the moral sense of the audience, but Aristotle asserts that the misfortune does not inspire what?
    1.   Pity.
    2.   Fear.
    3.   Joy.
    4.   Anger.
26. Aristotle explains that a sign is one of four types of recognition. What is an example of recognition occurring through the use of a sign?
    1.   A character's action is interrupted by what seems to be divine intervention.
    2.   A character recognizes another by a certain scar or birthmark
    3.   A character receives a psychic reading.
    4.   A character has a vivid dream
27. What is third type of recognition as identified by Aristotle?
    1.   One that occurs from a bad dream.
    2.   One that occurs from a good dream.
    3.   One that occurs through the awakening of some memory or latent emotion.
    4.   One that occurs through divine intervention.
28. Why does Aristotle believe that the main character of a tragedy ought to be a certain way?
    1.   Because no one is perfect.
    2.   Because the character's weakness ought to be the cause of his misfortune.
    3.   People take pity on weak characters.
    4.   A main character can become strong.
29. Aristotle says that an action that is failed to be performed in a tragedy by the person who is aware of the circumstances is what?
    1.   Reconsideration.
    2.   Reversal of situation.
    3.   The least effective poetically.
    4.   Good judgement.
30. Why does Aristotle believe that a failed action by a character that is unaware is more effective than a failed action by a character that is aware?
    1.   The second situation inspires more fear, but less pity.
    2.   The morals of the characters that is unaware remain intact, and the first situation inspires more fear.
    3.   They are equally effective.
    4.   They are equally ineffective.
31. What is the name that Aristotle uses for words that an audience may not understand?
    1.   "Current" words.
    2.   "Strange" words.
    3.   "Complicated" words.
    4.   "Big" words.
32. The following is an example that Aristotle gives of what: a poet uses a general word to mean a more specific one?
    1.   A metaphor.
    2.   Ineffective word use.
    3.   Vagueness.
    4.   Bad poetry.
33. When Homer says that Odysseus accomplished a certain number of deeds, what does Aristotle say the reader should do?
    1.   Questions Homer's ability to write believable stories.
    2.   Understand the Odysseus is a busy man.
    3.   Interpret this literally.
    4.   Infer that Odysseus simply accomplished a large number of deeds.
34. According to "Poetics" , what would be the analogy between the pen of a writer and the plough of a farmer
    1.   This is not analogy.
    2.   They are tools: both are used to make a living.
    3.   Both are people.
    4.   Both work
35. What does Aristotle believes to be the downfall of many poets?
    1.   They use big words.
    2.   They use few metaphors.
    3.   They attempt to put stories that involve very complex actions into poems.
    4.   They confuse their readers with excessive analogies
36. Aristotle credits whom with giving a great example of how one can take even a historical event and reduce and organize it into a simple and elegant story?
    1.   Homer.
    2.   Aristotle.
    3.   Sappho.
    4.   Hesiod.
37. Why, as identified by Aristotle, can the scale of story told by epics be much greater than what is allowed by the format of tragedy?
    1.   Because it's written as historical event.
    2.   Because it's science fiction.
    3.   Because it's written as narrative.
    4.   Because it's written as a love story.
38. In situations where the poet cannot avoid absurdity, Aristotle mentions that the skilled poet does what?
    1.   Uses poetic charms
    2.   Uses rhyme
    3.   Uses a metaphor
    4.   None of the answers is correct
39. When a poet does not understand that which he is attempting to depict, Aristotle considers this what type of error?
    1.   Trivial
    2.   Grand
    3.   Unforgivable
    4.   Essential
40. Which of the following does Aristotle consider an acceptable reason for a poet to depict men and their actions inaccurately?
    1.   A poet is unaware of his inaccurate depictions.
    2.   The depictions are interesting.
    3.   The inaccuracies are of considerable measure.
    4.   A poet wants to convey how the man should be.
41. Aristotle explains that often poets will use words with more than one what?
    1.   Spelling.
    2.   Pronunciations.
    3.   Sound.
    4.   Meaning.
42. Aristotle says that refined art excludes what?
    1.   Analogies.
    2.   Metaphors.
    3.   Words with more than one meaning.
    4.   Unsuitable subject matter.
43. According to Aristotle, why could tragedy be classified as less refined than epic poetry?
    1.   Tragedy is much longer than epic poetry.
    2.   Because of the embellishment of the on-stage performance component.
    3.   It would never be considered less refined.
    4.   Tragedy uses more metaphors than epic poetry.
44. What form of art does Aristotle consider to be more refined and superior?
    1.   Epic poetry.
    2.   Comedy.
    3.   Painting.
    4.   Tragedy.
45. What is one reason Aristotle considers this certain form of art to be more refined?
    1.   It is never performed on stage.
    2.   It can achieve the same effect in fewer words.
    3.   It can achieve the same effect with virtually no metaphors.
    4.   He considers all form of art equal