Saturday, November 1, 2008

ready much?

At this time one week from today I'll be sitting (hopefully) in a small room at UC San Diego taking the GRE Subject Test in Literature. This test is a bummer of a big deal, and--let's be honest here--I haven't been studying nearly hard enough. Sample question:

"The race of women will have honour; no longer will men tell disreputable tales about them." So sing the women of Corinth, in Euripides' tragedy, when they head how ________ has been wronged by her husband Jason, and learn how she plans her revenge.

Which of the following will correctly complete the passage above?

(A) Penelope
(B) Medea
(C) Cassandra
(D) Circe
(E) Electra

Seriously? Seriously? When I first read this, I had no idea. But now I've studied quite a bit, and you know what? I still don't know the answer. Let's check the back of the book, shall we? I know the answer isn't (A) or (D), and I'm pretty sure it's not (E). And in fact, it is... (drumroll) (B), Medea, from Euripides' play... Medea. Oh. 

Wish me luck, friends.