Can someone let me know if these answers are right? Thanks in advance!
Questions 1-7 all have the same format and answer choices. The answer choices are fully explained here, but they are in shortened versions in the remaining questions. Although you do not have a chance to explain your reasoning here, you will in question 8.
When he wrote the Poetics, Aristotle used many examples from well-known plays. He gave examples of excellent play design, but he also gave exmples of plays that had weaker and even very poor designs.
1-
According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question consider only the character traits of the main character.
An excellent example - he would think the situation in the play was ideal, according to what he believed made plays effective.
A good example - he would think the situation was good, but he would have some minor reservations.
A weak example - the situation would not be expected to have a good effect upon the audience, although it does have some merit.
A very poor example - this is not a good situation at all. The audience would not react well to it.
2-
According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question consider only the kind of flaw Oedipus exhibited in his character.
An excellent example
A good example
A weak example
A poor example
3-
According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question consider only the nature of the reversal of fortune in the play.
An excellent example
A good example
A weak example
A poor example
4-
According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question consider only the recognition in the play.
An excellent example
A good example
A weak example
A poor example
5-
According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question consider only the unity of time.
An excellent example
A good example
A weak example
A poor example
6-
According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question consider only the unity of place.
An excellent example
A good example
A weak example
A poor example
7-
According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question consider only the unity of action, or plot.
An excellent example
A good example
A weak example
A poor example
8-
Aristotle believed that a good play created a catharsis for the audience. Would this play accomplish that in ancient Greece? Write a paragraph in which you summarize what Aristotle must have thought about Oedipus the King, a play he did see and about which he did write. Be sure to explain catharsis.
Answers:
B
A
A
A
A
A
A
8- In Oedipus Rex, Oedipus, and by extension the audience, experiences a catharsis after he discovers the the truth about his parents. Previously Oedipus had now known who his true parents were and had unwittingly killed his father and married his mother. After Oedipus learns the truth, he shocked and horrified. This is the catharsis he goes through. After the revelations are known, he becomes a changed man. Before, Oedipus was a great king who believed himself to be powerful. Afterward he is humbled by the experience and understands that the course of life is not always determined by the traveler. These emotions would have been conveyed to the audience at around the same time as it was conveyed to Oedipus. The sudden knowledge of truth emphasizes how great the discrepancy was. Aristotle probably thought that this was an excellent play. All of the elements he believed go into a good play where included, including the three unities, the tragic flaw, and catharsis.
To determine if the answers are correct, let's analyze each question and its answer choices:
1. According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question, consider only the character traits of the main character.
The correct answer would be "A good example - he would think the situation was good, but he would have some minor reservations." This is because Aristotle believed that the main character should have some flaws, but not to an extreme extent.
2. According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question, consider only the kind of flaw Oedipus exhibited in his character.
The correct answer would be "An excellent example". Aristotle believed that the main character should possess a tragic flaw, and Oedipus having a flaw supports this.
3. According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question, consider only the nature of the reversal of fortune in the play.
The correct answer would be "An excellent example". Aristotle believed that a well-designed play should have a clear reversal of fortune, which Oedipus the King exhibits.
4. According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question, consider only the recognition in the play.
The correct answer would be "An excellent example". Aristotle believed that a well-designed play should have moments of recognition, which Oedipus the King has.
5. According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question, consider only the unity of time.
The correct answer would be "An excellent example". Aristotle believed that a well-designed play should have unity of time, meaning the action of the play should take place within a 24-hour period, which Oedipus the King adheres to.
6. According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question, consider only the unity of place.
The correct answer would be "An excellent example". Aristotle believed that a well-designed play should have unity of place, meaning the action of the play should take place in a single location, which Oedipus the King follows.
7. According to what you know of what Aristotle said about well-designed plays in the Poetics, which of the following best describes how he would most likely feel about the situation in Sophocles' Oedipus the King? In this question, consider only the unity of action, or plot.
The correct answer would be "An excellent example". Aristotle believed that a well-designed play should have unity of action, meaning the plot should have a clear beginning, middle, and end, which Oedipus the King demonstrates.
Based on the given information, the answers provided seem to be correct for questions 1-7.
In question 8, the response provided explains that Oedipus Rex is an excellent play according to Aristotle's criteria. It mentions how Oedipus experiences catharsis, which is the purging or release of emotions felt by the audience. The paragraph correctly summarizes Aristotle's view on Oedipus the King's quality, mentioning the inclusion of the three unities, the tragic flaw, and catharsis.
Overall, the provided answers and explanation for question 8 align with Aristotle's beliefs and the play Oedipus the King.