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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 does the author say the actual experience of love is?

2. According to the author, an esthetically beautiful marriage is always a what?

3. To whom does the author compare the young man when he is ill-tempered?

4. What moment does the newly married couple attempt to postpone?

5. What is the only thing for which the author thanks God with his whole soul?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author relate religion to swimming?

2. What does the author write first love is for "happy individualities?"

3. What is significant about the author's reference to the biblical story of King David and the prophet Nathan?

4. What does the author say could seriously tempt him to write books?

5. How does the author define and marriage of convenience?

6. What does the author assert is the principle reason for marrying?

7. How is first love the unification of freedom and necessity?

8. When does the secretiveness about which the author writes gain its strength?

9. In what kind of moment does the author write he hopes his letter finds the young man, and why?

10. Describe the fantasy marriage the author proposes to the young man.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the attitude of the author of the letter towards marriage? What does the author see as the principle purpose of marriage? What mental attitudes does the author indicate work against marriage? How may these be overcome? Discuss citing specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

The author writes at length about the importance of making a living. He also suggests that diving immediately into this task entails certain risks. Thoroughly define the author's views with respect to making a living and defend or refute his position using specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Both the author of the letter and the letter's recipient are men. Discuss the influence of gender in EITHER/OR. How might the letter be different if it were written by or to a woman? Why do you think both of the characters are men? Discuss citing specific examples.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 797 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample