Final Exam 2013

The format of the final is as follows: There are 26 ID's divided into two columns (13 in each column): one column is "what", one is "who". You have to answer two from each column and one more, from either column, for five in all. There are four essays from which to choose the one you want to write about.

With respect to specific knowledge (such as exact dates), and for the Identifications, the chronological limits for the final examination are from the end of the Peloponnesian War to approximately 270 (i.e., the first half century after the death of Alexander III of Macedon). ID's will pertain only to those years. For the essay questions, however, familiarity with people and events of other time periods, both earlier and later, will be useful. It would be difficult, for example, to compare Athenian and Spartan hegemony without knowing specific things about what the Athenians did during the fifth century. You should know about important people, places, and events of the later fifth century.

Instructions for an essay will look like this:

Choose one topic. Make copious use of facts in your discussion. Facts include dates, names of people and places, events. The argument consists of creating a logical relationship among disparate facts. It is also fair to consider the value and extent of the evidence available to us about the topic.

An essay question may look like this:*

The following exchange takes place near the end of Aristophanes' Frogs, produced in 405, as part of the contest between Euripides and Aeschylus to see which playwright deserves more to be restored to life and go back to Athens:

Dionysus    First about Alcibiades. What is your opinion? The city is still in heavy labor.
Euripides    What is its feeling about Alcibiades?
Dionysus    What? Yearning, hatred, desire. But what of you two?
      Say what you think about him.
Euripides    I hate a citizen slow to help his country, swift to harm it.
       Ingenious for himself, for the state feckless.
Dionysus    Well put, by Poseidon. And you, Aeschylus, what is your opinion?
Aeschylus    Best it is never to rear a lion in the city; but if reared
       It has been, 'tis best to yield to its ways.

Which of the two playwrights gives the best advice? Why?

*Note that this sample essay is based upon a passage of literature but here the whole passage and context is given to you. The essays on the final will not have any such passages because they will be more general; I used this sample essay because it was handy, pertained to the Peloponnesian war period, and already existed.

An answer would need to contain all of these elements:

If you had read Plutarch's biography of Alcibiades, you would have many things to say about his life before 421, especially his military career and personal life. If you had read only Thucydides and Xenophon, you would have to relate Alcibiades' entire career from 421 to 405, starting with his efforts to destroy the peace of Nicias, the alliance with Argos and other Peloponnesian states (and the Battle of Mantinea), continuing through his fostering of the Sicilian expedition, his plan of action upon arrival in Sicily, changes of sides, quality of advice given to the Spartans and Persians, and effectiveness as a commander in the war in the Aegean 411-406. This would give you a factual basis for assessing Alcibiades' talents or lack thereof, and thus for answering the question. If you had also read Aristophanes' Frogs you would know that Dionysus chose Aeschylus. That choice might figure into your answer, whether you agree or disagree with Dionysus.


Last updated: 10 December 2013