HUM 3330 Great Books I FINAL EXAM STUDENT COPY
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HUM 3330 Great Books I: Greek &Roman Classics
Final Exam
This is an
open book
exam, meaning you are permitted to use your texts
and your notes.
Be thorough
– when in doubt, write more than you think you need to write.
Short Answer Questions
(each question is worth 4 points). Answer
all
of
the following short answer questions:
1. In
Iliad
Book 6, how does the encounter of Glaucus and Diomedes
illustrate
xenia,
and how does it also illustrate the bad choice Troy is
making?
Answer- Glaucus and Diomedes meet and swap armor and stories, showing kindness even
though they're enemies. This is an example of xenia, a hospitality tradition. But Glaucus makes a
bad choice by trading his golden armor for Diomedes' bronze. This small decision hints at the
bigger mistakes Troy is making, adding to the sad events in the story.
2. How does his escape from the Cyclops in
Odyssey
illustrate the primary
attribute of Odysseus (and its potential weakness)?
Answer- In the Odyssey, Odysseus uses his smart thinking to escape from the Cyclops. He comes
up with a plan to blind the Cyclops and get away. However, he slips up by revealing his real
name, and this mistake creates more challenges for him as he tries to return home. The
challenges that he has to face can be thought of as a weakness because of how cunning he is.
3. What is the key issue that is resolved in the
Oresteia
, and how is it
resolved?
Answer- The key issue in Oresteia is the cycle of bloodshed and revenge within the House of
Atreus. It is resolved through the establishment of a legal system in Athens, with the trial and
verdict of Orestes for killing his mother, Clytemnestra. The goddess Athena casts the tie-
breaking vote, introducing the concept of justice and ending the cycle of vengeance with a legal
resolution.
4. In
History of the Peloponnesian Wars
, how did the Athenians treat the
people of Melos compared to the way they treated the Mytilenaeans, and
what does this reveal about the change in the Athenians over the course of
the war?
Answer- In the History of the Peloponnesian Wars, the Athenians treated the people of Melos
harshly, offering them a choice between surrender and destruction. In contrast, they initially
treated the Mytilenaeans with mercy, but later, after a failed revolt, they brutally suppressed
them. This reveals a shift in Athenian behavior over the course of the war, reflecting a growing
ruthlessness and loss of empathy as the conflict prolonged.
5. What are the three arguments for the immortality of the soul presented
by Socrates in
Phaedo
, and which do you think is most persuasive?
Answer- Socrates gives three reasons for thinking the soul is immortal in Phaedo. First, life
comes from death, so the soul must exist before birth. Second, knowledge is already in us,
suggesting the soul existed before. Third, the soul is more like eternal things than the body. The
idea that knowledge is already in us might be the most convincing because it hints at the soul's
existence before birth.
6. What definition of
politeia
(the title of the
Republic
) did Mr. Scott suggest
best captured the meaning of the term?
Answer- The definition that was mentioned in class was the organization of society, and the
pursuit for justice virtue. It encompasses the broader concept of the ideal city-state and the just
governance of its citizens as discussed in the dialogue.
7. Why did Socrates have such a negative view of poets like Homer?
Answer-
Socrates held a critical view of poets like Homer because he felt their works often
depicted gods and heroes engaging in morally questionable actions. He believed such narratives
could have a corrupting influence on individuals, particularly the younger generation, by
normalizing behavior he considered unethical. Socrates advocated for storytelling that aligned
with his emphasis on ethical conduct and virtue.
8. According to Socrates, how should a city be rightly constituted?
Answer- According to Socrates, a city should be rightly constituted by being governed by
philosopher-kings—wise and virtuous rulers who have knowledge of the Form of the Good. In
his ideal city, individuals are assigned roles based on their abilities, and justice prevails through
a harmonious balance of the three classes: rulers, auxiliary , and workers.
9. What are the four disordered constitutions of a city according to
Socrates?
Answer- According to Socrates, the four disordered constitutions of a city are:
Timocracy: A government based on honor, where warriors hold power.
Oligarchy: A government led by the wealthy elite.
Democracy: Rule by the majority, potentially leading to mob rule.
Tyranny: Rule by a single, unjust ruler who pursues his own interests.
10. What Greek word did Aristotle use to describe the goal of the human
life, and what does this word mean?
Answer- Aristotle used the Greek word "eudaimonia" to describe the goal of human life. It can
be translated as "flourishing" or "thriving" and refers to living a fulfilled and virtuous life in
accordance with one's true nature. It is an objective kind of happiness.
11. What are the components of Aristotle’s understanding of the meaning of
virtue?
Answer- Aristotle talks about different components when it comes to virtue. He talks about
being righteous and doing just things, making things right, and being a fair person. All of these
virtues into one makes a just person. Both moral and intellectual virtues together make a
person virtuous in Aristotle's view.
12. Pick one virtue discussed by Aristotle and describe its mean, excess, and
deficiency.
Answer- Mean- Courage is the mean between recklessness and cowardice. The courageous
person finds a balanced middle ground, facing challenges with bravery without being rash or
overly fearful.
Excess-
Recklessness represents the excess of courage. Someone who is reckless may take
unnecessary risks, acting without considering the consequences, which can lead to harm.
Deficiency- Cowardice is the deficiency of courage. A person with this deficiency might avoid
necessary risks and challenges due to excessive fear, hindering personal and societal progress.
13. What are the different kinds of justice according to Aristotle, and how
are they determined?
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Answer- Distributive Justice: Fair distribution of benefits and burdens in society. This is about
dividing things like honors or responsibilities in a way that's fair. It should be based on how
much someone deserves, needs, or contributes. The idea is to make sure everyone gets their
fair share.
Corrective Justice: This is about enforcing the law. It is about fixing things when someone does
something wrong. It's like making things equal again. The punishment or penalty should match
the harm caused. The goal is to bring things back to being fair.
14. In the
Nicomachean Ethics
, what are the 3 kinds of good regimes and
their corruptions?
Answer- Monarchy : Rule by one for the common good.
Corruption: Tyranny, when the ruler serves their own interests.
Aristocracy: Rule by the best for the common good.
Corruption: Oligarchy, when the rule is in the interest of a few wealthy individuals.
Polity: Rule by the many for the common good.
Corruption: Democracy, when the rule becomes self-serving and disregards the common good.
15. In what way does its opening line connect the
Aeneid
with
Iliad
and
Odyssey
?
Answer-The Aeneid begins with "I sing of arms and the man," connecting it to the Iliad and
Odyssey. This means Virgil is following the same style as Homer, talking about war and heroes.
It's like saying, "I'm telling an epic tale, just like those famous Greek stories." So, the Aeneid is
like a new chapter in the same kind of exciting adventures.
16. What does Venus ask Vulcan to make for Aeneas, and how is it different
from what was made for Achilles by Hephaestus?
Answer- Venus asks Vulcan to make special armor for Aeneas. This armor is different from what
Hephaestus made for Achilles because it shows scenes of Rome's future successes and
greatness, while Achilles' armor showed his own life events.
17. Why didn’t Cato the Elder like Socrates in particular, and why didn’t he
like the Greeks in general?
Answer- Cato the Elder didn't like Socrates because he considered him a talkative and annoying
person. He generally disliked the Greeks because he thought their philosophy and education
were corrupting Roman youth, leading them away from traditional Roman values.
18. Who were the
Optimates
and the
Populares
?
Answer- The Optimates were like the "old-school" Romans who liked the rich and powerful. The
Populares were more about helping the regular folks and challenging the power of the rich.
19. What nightmare involving his mother did Caesar have just before he
crossed the Rubicon, and what did Mr. Scott suggest was its significance?
Answer- Caesar had a nightmare about his mother just before crossing the Rubicon. In the
dream, his mother's death was a forewarning of the imminent danger he faced in crossing the
Rubicon River. The significance that was talked about in class had something to do with a
warning that something bad was going to happen and that he would go up against the Roman
senate. It was a sign about the dangers ahead.
20. What was your favorite book we read this semester, and why?
Answer- My favorite book that we read this semester would have to be The Odyssey. I have
never read a book quite like it. The adventures and the creatures that were mentioned in the
book along with the meanings really stuck with me. My mom always talks about these books
and how great they are, and I never understood until I read them for myself.
The Cyclops was
my favorite part of the book, because it reminded me of a story in the Bible where David is
hiding in a cave and escapes from Saul who wanted to kill him. My favorite part of The Odyssey
is the craftiness of Penelope, the underworld journey, and the Greek gods with their roles.
Essay Questions
(each question is worth 15 points
).
Select
three
of these
seven essay questions to answer:
1. Compare and contrast the characters of Helen and Dido. Your response
should include comments on such question as: To what extent was Helen to
blame for what happened to her? To what extent was Helen not to blame for
what happened to her? To what extent was Dido to blame for what
happened to her? To what extent was Dido not to blame for what happened
to her? What is your final evaluation of the two characters?
Answer- Helen's story is connected to a big war because she ran away with a guy named Paris.
She does have some blame for starting the war, but the gods also had a hand in it by making her
run away. So, she's not entirely to blame—some of it was beyond her control.
Helen's life was pretty tough. She's like a game piece for the gods, and her beauty causes a lot
of trouble. Even if she made some choices, the gods also played with her life, so the blame can't
all be on her. Dido, a queen in another story, falls in love with a guy named Aeneas. But her love
for him makes her forget about being a queen, and it doesn't end well for her. This time, it's
mostly her choices that lead to the sad outcome. Dido's love for Aeneas is real, but he leaves
her suddenly. Her heartbreak and decisions lead to a tragic end. Even though her choices
matter, Aeneas's actions and fate also play a part. My final evaluation of these two characters
are that they both have flaws and external factors that are determining their destiny, even if
they cannot control it.
Helen had gods messing with her fate, and Dido's love led to her making
choices that didn't work out. It's not easy to say who is to blame, but their stories make us think
about how sometimes things happen beyond our control.
2. In the
Republic
, how does a rightly constituted city illustrate a rightly
constituted soul? Your response should include comments on such question
as: Why did Socrates use the illustration of a city to explain what a soul
should look like? What are the three parts of the rightly ordered city, and
what are the corresponding parts of the rightly ordered soul? How do the
four cardinal virtues relate to this constitution?
Answer- Socrates compares a well-organized city to a well-balanced individual. By comparing a
city to a person, Socrates makes it simpler to understand big ideas about how we should live, be
fair, and find balance in our lives.
Why Use a City? Socrates uses a city as an example because it's easier to understand and
visualize. By looking at how different groups (like rulers, soldiers, and workers) work together in
a city, people can better grasp how different parts should work together in a person.
Three Parts of City and Soul: In the city, there are three groups: rulers, auxiliary, and workers.
These match up with three parts of a person: the thinking part (like rulers), the spirited part (like
auxiliary), and the desiring part (like workers).
The Virtues: Each group has a virtue – rulers have wisdom, soldiers have courage, and workers
have moderation. In a person, wisdom is like thinking smart, courage is like being brave, and
moderation is like keeping desires in check.
Four Cardinal Virtues: The four main virtues – wisdom, courage, moderation, and justice – are
crucial. They help keep everything in balance. Wisdom is about thinking smart, courage is being
brave, moderation is controlling desires, and justice is making sure everything works
harmoniously.
Goal: Justice in City and Soul: The main aim is to have justice in both the city and the person. In
the city, justice means everyone doing their part well. In a person, justice is having the thinking,
spirited, and desiring parts working together smoothly.
3. Explain the Allegory of the Cave in the
Republic
in detail. Your response
should include comments on such question as: What does the inside of the
cave represent? What does the outside of the cave represent? What do the
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shadows in the cave represent? Who do the people using images to cast the
shadows represent? What does the Sun represent?
Answer- The Allegory of the Cave teaches us about understanding the world. The inside of the
cave is prisoners who are chained, facing the wall, and can only see shadows cast by objects
behind them. This represents the limited understanding of those who are immersed in the
physical world and only perceive a distorted version of reality. Outside the cave is like gaining
real knowledge and seeing things as they truly are, beyond appearances. In other words, going
out into the light. The shadows in the cave are illusions or things that seem real but aren't. They
represent the distorted views we might have about the world.
The people using images to cast
the shadows represent influencers or leaders who shape how we see things, influencing what
we believe is true. The Sun is the ultimate truth and understanding. It represents real
knowledge that helps us see beyond illusions and shadows. The Allegory of the Cave is Plato's
way of showing us that there's more to discover beyond what we see on the surface. It
encourages us to seek deeper knowledge and not just accept things at face value.
4. Using a plastic water bottle as an example, explain Aristotle’s four causes
and their significance. Your response should include comments on such
question as: What are the four causes? Which of the two causes has modern
western philosophy rejected? Why is this the greatest mistake in western
thought according to Mr. Scott? What current social controversies did Mr.
Scott use to illustrate why this has been such a crucial mistake?
5. Early Christian thinkers made great use of the works of Plato and
Aristotle. Why do you think they found their writings much more appealing
than the writings of Homer? Your response should include comments on
such question as: In what way is the view of God in Plato and Aristotle
closer to Christianity than the view of god/the gods in Homer? In what way
is the view of proper human conduct in Plato and Aristotle closer to
Christianity than the view of human conduct in Homer?
6. Is the rage of Aeneas during battle any different from the rage of
Achilles, and is it consistent with his most noteworthy characteristic? Your
response should include comments on such question as: What drove the
rage of Achilles? What is the most noteworthy characteristic of Aeneas?
What drove the rage of Achilles? How should we interpret the killing of
Turnus at the end of the
Aeneid
? What is your final evaluation of the rage of
Achilles vs Aeneas?
7. How does the rise and downfall of Caesar illustrate the discussion of
ordered vs disordered regimes in the
Republic
and
Nicomachean Ethics
?
Your response should include comments on such question as: How did
Caesar rise to power? In what ways did the civil wars created by Caesar’s
rise to power harm Rome? Why did popular opinion turn against Caesar?
How does Caesar’s fate compare to the fate of tyrants in the
Republic
?
BONUS QUESTION (worth 5 points): What was the most personally
beneficial thing you learned from the readings this semester, and why?
Answer- Some personally beneficial things that I have learned from the readings this semester
are the importance of critical thinking and self examination. I specifically think of Plato's
writings
because he emphasizes these things. This can be helpful in my life to apply how the
characters in these books were deep thinking and examining themselves or not doing so, which
can also be a lesson to me. These readings helped me to learn more about literature and for me
to learn about how reading poetry and making meaning of it will help me in many different
aspects of life. For example, my spiritual life, there are many cross overs that can be made. I was
able to make many cross overs while reading this and read God's
word along with these Greek
books and become a stronger believer in God. Another thing that I took away from these
readings is that there are consequences for bad choices that are made. Those bad choices can
lead to lessons that are learned and can lead to heroism and endurance. I learned that justice
and virtues play a huge role in our society, even if you are not a Christian, everyone needs to live
by some type of virtues or morals.