Machievelli's The Prince

Study Guide

I.          Define the following words.

1.                  Presumptuous

2.                  Rapacious

3.                  Preservation

4.                  Effeminate

5.                  Pusillanimous

6.                  Fierce

7.                  Humane

8.                  Haughty

9.                  Lascivious

10.              Chaste

11.              Frank

12.              Astute

13.              Frivolous

14.              Liberality

15.              Niggardliness

16.              Sparing

17.              Despicable

18.              Poverty

19.              Virtue

20.              Vice

   II.                 Complete the statements below.

1.      Machiavelli was concerned about the way a prince is looked at by his _____________ and his _________________.

2.      He was afraid that he would be considered _____________________ in giving his opinions, because other people disagreed with his ideas.

3.      His purpose in writing this was separate the real truth from its _________________________________.

4.      Machiavelli said that many people have imagined republics and principalities that existed only in imagination; but that how people live is a lot different than ______  ______ ___________________________________________________.

5.      The author states that people who ignore “what is done for what ought to be done” will bring about ____________________________________________________.

6.      Therefore, a prince who wants to stay in power needs to learn how ________________ _______________________________________________________.

7.      This should be used, or not used, according to the ______________________________.

8.      In the second paragraph, Machiavelli says that people who are looked up at are expected to have certain qualities which bring them either _____________________ or _______________.

9.      The author uses a series of juxtapositions (opposites) to make his point:

Liberal vs. ______________________

Freegiver vs. _________________________

Cruel vs. ____________________________

Oath-breaker vs. __________________________

Effeminate & pusillanimous vs. _______________________________

Humane vs. _______________________________

Lascivious vs. __________________________

Frank vs. ______________________________

Hard vs. _____________________________

Serious vs. ____________________________

Religious vs. __________________________

10.  Since a prince cannot possess all the good qualities, he should be ___________________ ____________________________ _______________________________________________________.

11.  He should also guard himself against ________________________________________ ________________________________________________ ______________________________________________

12..  He should not mind indulging in vices which will _____________________________ _____________________________________________________.

13.  Liberality will injure the prince because ______________________________________ __________________________________________________ _______________________________________________

14.  Spending too much money on friends will eventually leave the prince with no money.  He will then need to ______________________________________________________.

15.   Three examples of rulers who were tight with money are ________________________,  _____________________,  and ____________________________.

16.  A prince may either spend ___________________________ or that of _______________________________.

17.  Liberality is necessary to a prince who ________________________, and lives by _______________, _______________, and ___________________.

18.  Examples of princes who were generous with the wealth of others are ______________________, ____________________, and ________________.

19.  The most important thing that a prince must guard against is being ______________________ or ______________________.

20.  The name of miser produces ____________________________.

   III.               In 50 words or less, summarize what Machiavelli is suggesting to the Prince. (25 pts.)

   IV.  In a few sentences, discuss whether you agree with Machiavelli or not.  Explain. (25 pts.)