There will be two parts, Short Answer (Closed Book) and Essay (Open Book)
| Gilgamesh (5 Qs) | African Tales & Myths (3 Qs) |
| The Qur'an (3 Qs) | The Sundiata (5 Qs) |
.Literary Terms (i.e. What is Dramatic Irony?)
Important Plot Aspects (Why does Enkidu die?)
Other Statement of Ideas (What does Aristotle say the
difference is between a simple and a complex plot?)
| Religion | Dreams/Prophecies |
| Women | Love/War |
| Characters & Their Relationships |
Specifically, you will need to respond to one of
the following questions in a well-organized, well-supported (i.e.
with specific quotes from the texts) discussion with a clear
thesis. You will need to provide detailed responses, including as
much specific detail from the texts as possible.You may bring an
outline with you to the exam.
1. Describe the relationship between gods and humans in Gilgamesh and the African Tales and Myths. To what extent do they influence each other and the events of the story? What determines who has the power to control events?
2. Explain the roles of women/goddesses in Gilgamesh, African Tales and Myths, and the Sundiata. How much power do they have to influence the events that occur?
3. Compare the characters of Gilgamesh and Sundiata. Who is a good king? Who is a bad king? Are they somewhere in the middle? Explain in terms of their relationships with their subjects and with other kings or rulers or gods.
* Keep in mind the importance of Quote Incorporation,
which can be described as a three-step process:
Introduce--Present Accurately--Explain
Here's an example, using a quote from page 220 of Oedipus:
Oedipus describes the prophecy that frightened him: "'I was fated to lie with my mother, / and show to daylight an accursed breed / which men would not endure'" (865-67). In addition to suggesting the importance of the gods, this prophecy does in fact foreshadow the fate of which Oedipus is afraid.
*Notice how I introduced the
quote, presented and cited the
quote accurately, then explained
its significance.
I also used a slash (/) to designate a line break. You must do
that with poems and plays (anything that has line numbers next to
it). Also notice how I placed line numbers in parentheses rather
than page number. Again, do this with poems and plays. With long
poems, such as The Iliad, which has Book numbers, include
them: (2.134-36). This quote would have come from Book 2, lines
134 to 136. Also use proper format with more than four lines
of quoted material, whether prose or poetry: Indent, etc..
