Greek Culture: Lyric Poetry and History – Quiz

1. Hesiod’s ____________ is an outstanding source shedding light on agricultural life in Archaic Age Greece.
2. Identify at least one way in which lyric poetry differs from epic poetry.
3. In ancient Greece, the term “lesbian” referred to what sort of person?
4. Poems composed for performance at public gatherings were called __________.
5. Why do modern historians often consider Thucydides to be the greatest of ancient historians?
6. ____________ is the “Father of History” who recorded the events of the Persian Wars.
7. _________ is the lyric poet best known for composing victory odes.
8. _________ is usually considered the greatest lyric poet of ancient Greece, although very little of her work survives.

Show answers

1. Works and Days
2. Lyric poems are shorter than epic poems, unlike epics, they can be composed in a variety of meters, they focus more on the personal perspective of the poet.
3. An inhabitant of the island of Lesbos
4. Choral lyrics
5. He takes a “scientific” approach to historical causes.
6. Herodotus
7. Pindar
8. Sappho