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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapters 6 and 7.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens to persons in physical pain that is not experienced with mental pain?
(a) Mental pain doesn't disable one as much as physical pain.
(b) Depression hurts worse.
(c) A superhuman ability to endure physical pain for a time.
(d) Ones in physical pain receive medicine but don't get better.

2. What does the suicide of another of Styron's friends lead him to believe?
(a) That his friends must be weak.
(b) That he would soon have to face the fact that his own suicide is his only way out.
(c) That life isn't worth living.
(d) That he isn't a very good friend to others since he can't help them.

3. What does Styron's psychiatrist recommend to him about the hospital?
(a) To go to a hospital in Paris so no one would know.
(b) To avoid the hospital at all costs.
(c) To plan on staying for a year in the hospital.
(d) To go to the hospital for treatment.

4. What aspect of depression parallels the threshold of pain?
(a) Its pervasiveness.
(b) The inability of the depressed person to absorb pain beyond predictable periods of time.
(c) Its deep intensity.
(d) Its unrelenting nature.

5. What clues does Gary reveal that Styron later learns was probably signs of deep depression?
(a) Shaky hands and weak, quiet voice.
(b) Constant weepiness.
(c) Lack of cohesive thought.
(d) Withdrawal from friendships.

Short Answer Questions

1. What three factors does Styron name as contributing to depression?

2. At the dinner party, how does Styron react to the four friends?

3. How does Styron's body feel in the beginning of his depression?

4. During the dinner party, what does Styron do with his diary?

5. How does Camus's essay about a prisoner on death row impact Styron's writing?

(see the answer key)

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