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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What philosophical question does Gary present as central to all philosophy; a question that confuses Styron until years later when he suffers his depression?

2. How does Camus's essay influence Stryon's philosophy of life?

3. What did Styron do for Hoffman regarding a political demonstration led by Hoffman?

4. What does Gary confess to Styron about Camus's depression?

5. What reaction does Styron have to a flock of Canadian geese?

Short Essay Questions

1. What did Styron say about someone being able to describe depression?

2. What advice did Styron give for the person suffering from depression?

3. What about the hospital was conducive to Styron's rapid recovery after months of intense suffering?

4. As Styron contemplated and planned for his suicide, what two feelings did he describe?

5. What is the relationship between artistic temperaments and suicide and what was Styron's appeal in relationship to it?

6. What did the diary represent to Styron? What did he do with it?

7. Styron describes what common factor among almost all depressed persons contemplating suicide?

8. What sort of therapy was used to help Styron overcome his depression?

9. What is known about the causes of depression, according to Styron?

10. Why did Styron refuse to go to a luncheon with Simone del Duca, even though he had made an appointment to do so?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Even though it is nonfiction, a good memoir develops the characters through description, dialogue, and characterization, much as is done in fiction. Describe and give examples of how Styron develops his characters to make them interesting and insure the audience is sympathetic to them. Did he effectively develop his characters? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Critics have indicated that Styron left much of his personal journey out of the book. As a memoir of madness, we might expect, and deserve, to read more of Styron's journey through madness. Yet, he didn't include it. Why might this be? Would the book have been better or worse if more detail of the struggle had been included? Do you think leaving out the information was by plan or by accident? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The difference between an autobiography and a memoir is that the memoir is about a specific topic or time span in the author's life. An autobiography is similar, but usually takes a more global look at the writer's life, including background information that leads up to the point in time of the events being examined. Discuss how Darkness Visible is a memoir, but has some characteristics of autobiography. Defend your idea of whether the work is a memoir or more of an autobiography. Use examples from the book to prove your position.

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