Literature of the Ancient World Quiz

One of the primary objectives of this unit is to read selections from:

• The Renaissance to the Modern Era

• The beginnings of literary traditions to A.D. 1400

• The Classical period of Greece and Rome only

• The major European novels of the 19th century

According to the timeline, what is the earliest known literary work mentioned?

• The Code of Hammurabi

• The Egyptian Book of the Dead

• The earliest written texts about King Gilgamesh

• Hebrew biblical writings

The Epic of Gilgamesh is a Babylonian work that was reshaped from:

• Egyptian love poetry

• A group of Sumerian tales

• Persian epic poems

• Hebrew scriptures

How did the character of Egyptian literature change from the Old Kingdom to the New Kingdom?

• It shifted from informal love poetry to formal religious hymns.

• It changed from historical records to scientific texts.

• It evolved from formal hymns to more personal poetry.

• It transitioned from oral tales to written legal codes.

Hebrew law introduced which new elements to ancient Near Eastern culture?

• A complex system of geometry and mathematics

• A greater respect for human life and concern for moral behavior

• The concept of many gods governing different aspects of life

• The tradition of epic poetry about legendary kings

What is the central message of the Qur'an?

• The importance of building great pyramids for the afterlife.

• The battle between two gods, one good and one evil.

• That Allah is the one God and all must submit to his will.

• A collection of laws for economic and trade agreements.

What is the title of the famous Persian 'Epic of Kings' and who is its author?

• The Rubáiyát by Omar Khayyām

• Shah-nama by Firdawsi

• The Thousand and One Nights by Anonymous

• Ecclesiastes by King Solomon

A rubai is a Persian poetic form best described as:

• A long, narrative epic

• A poem in four-line stanzas

• A sacred hymn

• A prose folk tale

Sufi poets, like Rumi, primarily wrote about:

• The victories of great kings and empires

• Their spiritual love and desire for oneness with Allah

• Satirical criticisms of society

• Historical battles and heroes

In traditional African societies, a griot was a:

• Warrior-king

• Religious leader

• Storyteller and oral historian

• Trader and merchant