Race for Atalanta

Act I is important to the dramatic action of the play because it introduces a conflict —

• within Atalanta over whether she should hold a race

• within Atalanta over whether and whom she should marry

• between Atalanta and the young men of Athens over who is the fastest

• between Atalanta and Chloe over who should finish the wedding gown

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How does Act II, Scene 2 build on the events in Act II, Scene 1?

• Scene 2 intensifies the discouragement Hippomenes feels at the end of Scene 1.

• Scene 2 unveils a way for Hippomenes to resolve the conflict introduced in Scene 1.

• Scene 2 develops Hippomenes’s character by revealing different traits than in Scene 1.

• Scene 2 introduces Hippomenes’s new conflict with the other characters from Scene 1.

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Which line from Act I foreshadows Hippomenes’s success in Act II, Scene 3?

• I didn’t run my morning marathon, and now I’m crawling out of my skin.

• Shiny! [Grabbing the thread, which she holds throughout the scene.]

• I don’t hope to require a wedding gown any time soon.

• Every young man in Athens wants you as his bride

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Based on this play, one might conclude that in Ancient Greece, people believed the gods-

• grew angry with those who were driven by pride

• could influence romance between men and women

• tested humans by tempting them with golden apples

• rewarded those who performed well at feats of strength

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What universal message about love does the playwright communicate in this play?

• The happiest love is between people who are very much alike.

• Love always comes to people who are clever, daring, and talented.

• Sometimes you find love only after you have all but given up on it.

• You should not set your expectations too high when it comes to love.

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How do Acts I and II differ?

• Act I focuses on Atalanta’s past, while Act II focuses on her possible future.

• Act I focuses on Atalanta’s flaws, while Act II focuses on her greatest strengths.

• Act I focuses on Atalanta’s friendship with Chloe, while Act II focuses on romance.

• Act I focuses on Atalanta’s problem, while Act II focuses on Hippomenes’s problem.

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What ideas about women in Ancient Greece does this play convey?

• Women often proved more physically capable than men.

• Women were expected to stay home rather than seek adventure.

• Women were required to marry as soon as they reached adulthood.

• Women usually chose their husbands through competitions like races.

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What important change takes place in Act II, Scene 3?

• Hippomenes realizes that he wants to marry Atalanta.

• Atalanta realizes she is not as fast and strong as she thought.

• Atalanta realizes there is someone she wants to marry after all.

• Hippomenes realizes that he will need to use a trick to beat Atalanta.

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The playwright uses point of view in Act II, Scene 1 to develop the story by showing —

• Atalanta’s point of view to reveal how she feels as she races

• Hippomenes’s point of view to reveal how he feels about Atalanta

• multiple points of view to reveal how each character experiences the race

• the announcer’s point of view to reveal how the audience perceives the race

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How does Hippomenes’s desire to marry Atalanta affect the resolution of the conflict?

• He asks for Aphrodite’s help because he is determined to win the race at any cost.

• He admires Atalanta’s strength and speed when she wins against the other young men.

• He smiles when Atalanta tells him that she let him win even though he does not believe her

• He brags that he will win against Atalanta and ensure this race does not become an annual event.

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