CLEP HUMANITIES (Art and Music) EXAM
STUDY GUIDE LATEST UPDATED RATED A.
The 2 most prevalent literary genres during the Classical Period
(Aristotle considered these the only literary genres worthy of any attention)
1) Epic Poetry
2) Tragedy
Classicism is defined by the following characteristics:
linearity of forms, simplicity, proportion, and symmetry
Author of the paradigmatic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Blind poet who sung his poems as he wandered throughout Greece.
Homer
Achilles, the protagonist of this epic poem, fights against the Trojans in an effort
to avenge the death of his friend, Patroclus (who was killed by Hector, the
prince of Troy). Achilles succeeds in slaughtering Hector, and Troy is destroyed
by the Greeks as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, devises the famous Trojan
Horse.
The Iliad
Odysseus, the protagonist of this epic poem, journeys with his men to return
home to his wife after 10 years fighting in the Trojan War. However, due to
numerous crazy events, it takes him an additional 10 years to arrive. Along the
way he meets many figures of Greek mythology including Poseidon, Cyclops
(aka Polyphemus), Circe, Calypso, sirens, Hades, and Laertes.
The Odyssey
Jason, the protagonist of this ancient Greek myth, sails the Black Sea with his
40 soldiers on a magical talking ship named Argus. On their search for the
Golden Fleece, a magical sheepskin that grants superhuman strength and
powers to its wearer, they encounter numerous obstacles and mythological
figures.
The Argonauts
,Democracy
Derived from the Greek words "demos" and "kratos," literally meaning "power of
the people."
A system of gov. in which all laws, policies, leadership, and major undertakings are
determined by "the people."
*Ancient Greek democracy only extended these rights to free men
Pericles
Athenian leader noted for helping conceive and implement democracy in Greece
and for ordering the construction of the Parthenon.
Worked to transform Athens into one of the most powerful, cultured cities in the
ancient world.
Philosophy during the Classical Period:
Centered around logic and reflection.
Inspired philosophical thought of future periods (ex: Renaissance, Enlightenment).
Advocated cultivating the human mind so that it could exercise its full potential.
Socrates
Athenian philosopher who encouraged critical thought and open discussion in
students as opposed to lecturing.
Questioned pre-established concepts s/a the existence and authority of gods.
Sentenced to death for his religious views and "corrupting the minds of the youth."
Plato
Disciple of Socrates who proposed that our reality is just a shadow of another
world composed of perfect ideas and forms, and that humans must look beyond the
imperfect physical reality to find true perfection.
Aristotle
Disciple of Plato who believed that, since human nature is to live in civilizations, it's
important to strive for a more perfect society.
Promoted the genre of tragedy, claiming that tragedy ends with catharsis.
Catharsis
,The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed
emotions.
The 3 most prominent Classical Historians:
1) Herodotus
2) Thucydides
3) Xenophon
Amphitheater
A large oval stadium with tiers of seats seen in Classical Rome. Larger stadiums (ex:
The Colosseum) were used for gladiator events or executions. Smaller local theaters
were built into hillsides and may have been used for theatrics, namely the
reenactment of tragedies
Aeschylus
The father of tragedy.
Wrote trilogies centered around the concept of fate
Sophocles
Wrote the play "Oedipus Rex," which was centered around patricide and incest.
The protagonist, Oedipus, kills his father and marries his mother, Jocasta. In the end,
all characters including Oedipus die.
Euripides
A great Greek tragic dramatist/playwright known for his play "Medusa."
Greece inspired many of this country's architectural, political, and combative
techniques during the Classical Period.
According to legend, it was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus.
Rome
Virgil
Known as the greatest poet of Rome.
Wrote The Aeneid, which helped memorialize the history of Rome in a fusion of fact
and fiction.
His works later inspired many early Renaissance and Modern era authors (ex:
Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy")
, Aeneas, the protagonist of this epic poem, is a prince of Troy who managed to
escape the destruction of his city to Northern Africa. Eventually, he establishes a
dynasty in an Italian peninsula which later becomes Rome.
Known as the "epic of winners" because the protagonist is able to turn the
tragedy of the destruction of his city into a conquest.
The Aeneid
Horace
Roman poet who promoted the philosophy that one should seize the day and enjoy
love, beauty, youth, and health while it lasts.
aka. "carpe diem" and "beatus ille"
Ovid (aka Naso)
Roman poet known for his big nose and contemporary efforts to consolidate the
cultural values, myths, and history of Rome.
Wrote "Metamorphosis," a long poem recreating the myths of ancient Rome and
Greece, involving major figures of Greek mythology.
Lucan
Roman poet who wrote the epic poem "Pharsalia," which criticizes Roman politics
instead of glorifying it (like Virgil's Aeneid). Centered around pain, failure, and a
system that's crushed by unfair authority.
Greek architecture developed into 3 distinct orders:
1) Doric
2) Ionic
3) Corinthian
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian
The Acropolis
STUDY GUIDE LATEST UPDATED RATED A.
The 2 most prevalent literary genres during the Classical Period
(Aristotle considered these the only literary genres worthy of any attention)
1) Epic Poetry
2) Tragedy
Classicism is defined by the following characteristics:
linearity of forms, simplicity, proportion, and symmetry
Author of the paradigmatic poems, The Iliad and The Odyssey.
Blind poet who sung his poems as he wandered throughout Greece.
Homer
Achilles, the protagonist of this epic poem, fights against the Trojans in an effort
to avenge the death of his friend, Patroclus (who was killed by Hector, the
prince of Troy). Achilles succeeds in slaughtering Hector, and Troy is destroyed
by the Greeks as Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, devises the famous Trojan
Horse.
The Iliad
Odysseus, the protagonist of this epic poem, journeys with his men to return
home to his wife after 10 years fighting in the Trojan War. However, due to
numerous crazy events, it takes him an additional 10 years to arrive. Along the
way he meets many figures of Greek mythology including Poseidon, Cyclops
(aka Polyphemus), Circe, Calypso, sirens, Hades, and Laertes.
The Odyssey
Jason, the protagonist of this ancient Greek myth, sails the Black Sea with his
40 soldiers on a magical talking ship named Argus. On their search for the
Golden Fleece, a magical sheepskin that grants superhuman strength and
powers to its wearer, they encounter numerous obstacles and mythological
figures.
The Argonauts
,Democracy
Derived from the Greek words "demos" and "kratos," literally meaning "power of
the people."
A system of gov. in which all laws, policies, leadership, and major undertakings are
determined by "the people."
*Ancient Greek democracy only extended these rights to free men
Pericles
Athenian leader noted for helping conceive and implement democracy in Greece
and for ordering the construction of the Parthenon.
Worked to transform Athens into one of the most powerful, cultured cities in the
ancient world.
Philosophy during the Classical Period:
Centered around logic and reflection.
Inspired philosophical thought of future periods (ex: Renaissance, Enlightenment).
Advocated cultivating the human mind so that it could exercise its full potential.
Socrates
Athenian philosopher who encouraged critical thought and open discussion in
students as opposed to lecturing.
Questioned pre-established concepts s/a the existence and authority of gods.
Sentenced to death for his religious views and "corrupting the minds of the youth."
Plato
Disciple of Socrates who proposed that our reality is just a shadow of another
world composed of perfect ideas and forms, and that humans must look beyond the
imperfect physical reality to find true perfection.
Aristotle
Disciple of Plato who believed that, since human nature is to live in civilizations, it's
important to strive for a more perfect society.
Promoted the genre of tragedy, claiming that tragedy ends with catharsis.
Catharsis
,The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed
emotions.
The 3 most prominent Classical Historians:
1) Herodotus
2) Thucydides
3) Xenophon
Amphitheater
A large oval stadium with tiers of seats seen in Classical Rome. Larger stadiums (ex:
The Colosseum) were used for gladiator events or executions. Smaller local theaters
were built into hillsides and may have been used for theatrics, namely the
reenactment of tragedies
Aeschylus
The father of tragedy.
Wrote trilogies centered around the concept of fate
Sophocles
Wrote the play "Oedipus Rex," which was centered around patricide and incest.
The protagonist, Oedipus, kills his father and marries his mother, Jocasta. In the end,
all characters including Oedipus die.
Euripides
A great Greek tragic dramatist/playwright known for his play "Medusa."
Greece inspired many of this country's architectural, political, and combative
techniques during the Classical Period.
According to legend, it was founded by the twins Romulus and Remus.
Rome
Virgil
Known as the greatest poet of Rome.
Wrote The Aeneid, which helped memorialize the history of Rome in a fusion of fact
and fiction.
His works later inspired many early Renaissance and Modern era authors (ex:
Dante Alighieri's "Divine Comedy")
, Aeneas, the protagonist of this epic poem, is a prince of Troy who managed to
escape the destruction of his city to Northern Africa. Eventually, he establishes a
dynasty in an Italian peninsula which later becomes Rome.
Known as the "epic of winners" because the protagonist is able to turn the
tragedy of the destruction of his city into a conquest.
The Aeneid
Horace
Roman poet who promoted the philosophy that one should seize the day and enjoy
love, beauty, youth, and health while it lasts.
aka. "carpe diem" and "beatus ille"
Ovid (aka Naso)
Roman poet known for his big nose and contemporary efforts to consolidate the
cultural values, myths, and history of Rome.
Wrote "Metamorphosis," a long poem recreating the myths of ancient Rome and
Greece, involving major figures of Greek mythology.
Lucan
Roman poet who wrote the epic poem "Pharsalia," which criticizes Roman politics
instead of glorifying it (like Virgil's Aeneid). Centered around pain, failure, and a
system that's crushed by unfair authority.
Greek architecture developed into 3 distinct orders:
1) Doric
2) Ionic
3) Corinthian
Doric
Ionic
Corinthian
The Acropolis
