2008 FJCL State Latin Forum Greek Literature

Question 1

The history of Greek Literature begins with what ethnic branch of Greeks?

Answer 1

Ionians

Question 2

Which author’s complete works have come down to modern times?

Answer 2

Plato

Question 3

The oldest Greek book was written by whom?

Answer 3

Homer

Question 4

What is the theme of the Iliad?

Answer 4

the wrath of Achiles

Question 5

In the Odyssey, who is disguised as Mentor?

Answer 5

Athena

Question 6

What was the name of Hesiod’s “poetical remonstrance” to his brother which proclaims the virtue of honest work?

Answer 6

Works and Days

Question 7

Which city played the dominant role in the formation of Greek literature?

Answer 7

Athens

Question 8

The Greek word for which poetic form literally means “goat song”?

Answer 8

tragedy

Question 9

What man is acknowledged by most to have invented tragedy?

Answer 9

Thespis

Question 10

What was the large circular area pivoting around the altar, located in front of the stage called?

Answer 10

orhcestra

Question 11

Who made Achilles’ shield?

Answer 11

Hephaestus

Question 12

What had the most manifest literary influence on New Comedy?

Answer 12

Euripidean tragedy

Question 13

What group were the first writers of prose?

Answer 13

philosophers

Question 14

What philosopher is considered the “father of atomic theory”?

Answer 14

Democritos of Abdera

Question 15

Who authored On Diet in Acute Illnesses, Epidemics, On Airs, Waters and Places, and On Epilepsy, among other works?

Answer 15

Hippocrates

Question 16

The use of dialogue for philosophical writing probably as developed because of the question & answer style (not written however) of what philosopher?

Answer 16

Socrates

Question 17

Who was Plato’s most famous student?

Answer 17

Aristotle

Question 18

Who was Aristotle’s most famous student?

Answer 18

Alexander

Question 19

Who as the author of the Philippics?

Answer 19

Demosthenes

Question 20

Who is known as the “Father of History”?

Answer 20

Herodotus of Halicarnassos

Question 21

What author is the main link between Aristophanes and the Roman comic poets?

Answer 21

Menander

Question 22

Which poet did not flourish in the 42nd Olympiad (612 BCE - 609 BCE): Alkaios, Hesiod, Stesichoros, or Sappho?

Answer 22

Hesiod

Question 23

What is a general description of skolia?

Answer 23

after-dinner songs

Question 24

What Spartan poet, while more famous for being rescued by a dolphin, probably gave literary form to the dithyramb?

Answer 24

Arion

Question 25

Who was the author of Concerning Nature?

Answer 25

Hericleitos of Ephesus (the Obscure)

Question 26

In what works are found the story of Atlantis?

Answer 26

Timaeus & Critias

Question 27

What were Aristotle’s follower called?

Answer 27

Peripatetics

Question 28

In whose work would one find Pericles’ funeral oration?

Answer 28

Thucydides

Question 29

What work is the continuation of The History of the Peloponnesian War?

Answer 29

Hellenica

Question 30

Who wrote the Bacchae, Medea, and Hippolytus?

Answer 30

Euripides

Question 31

Which play was not part of the Oresteia: Agamemnon, Choephori, or Eumenides?

Answer 31

Helen

Question 32

What early writer wrote elegies and war songs in the Doric dialect?

Answer 32

Tyrtaeus

Question 33

What was the name of the wheeled platform which thrust actors onto the stage and then off again?

Answer 33

ekkylema

Question 34

Which tragic poet is represented by the largest number of complete extant (existing) plays?

Answer 34

Euripides

Question 35

Which poet was not part of the Golden Age: Aeschylus, Homer, Aristophanes, or Sophocles?

Answer 35

Homer

Question 36

Which early Greek language did not develop a literary form?

Answer 36

Minoan

Question 37

Which of these is possibly an addition to Book II of the Iliad by person(s) unknown?

Answer 37

catalogue of Greek and Trojan forces

Question 38

What was Aphrodite doing when she was wounded by Diomedes in the Iliad?

Answer 38

rescuing Aeneas

Question 39

Which of the following works is not considered part of the Epic Cycle: Cypria, Shield of Heracles, Aithiopis, or Telegonia?

Answer 39

Shield of Heracles

Question 40

In the Battle of the Frogs and the Mice (Batrachomyomachia), the mice are finally defeated by what animals, which were sent by what god?

Answer 40

crabs/Zeus

Question 41

What Parian poet actually made fun of the fact that he had thrown down his shield in battle?

Answer 41

Archilochos

Question 42

In what dialect were most of Pindar’s poems written?

Answer 42

Doric

Question 43

What poet described himself as the “Keian nightingale”?

Answer 43

Bacchylides

Question 44

Tradition claims comedy was invented by a Megarian named what?

Answer 44

Susarion

Question 45

What did Sophron of Syracuse write?

Answer 45

mimes

Question 46

Aristotle’s works were almost lost to vermin and dampness but were finally rescued and taken to Rome by which unlikely person?

Answer 46

Sulla

Question 47

What did the lost work of Aristotle titled Diadascaliae concern?

Answer 47

successful plays of the Dionysia & Lenaea

Question 48

Why was the profession of logographs needed at Athens?

Answer 48

litigants were required to speak for themselves in court

Question 49

What orator successfully sued his guardians for robbing him of his inheritance before he was of age?

Answer 49

Demosthenes