View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What affects Seneca's exercise time according to Letter LXXXIII?
(a) The amount of time he studies.
(b) His lack of time.
(c) His old age.
(d) His lack of interest.

2. What does Seneca say the gods give man the capacity for?
(a) Love.
(b) Life.
(c) Philosophy.
(d) Scientific study.

3. Who was Posidinius?
(a) A sea god.
(b) A historian.
(c) A sailor.
(d) God of an ancient river.

4. According to Seneca, where are the sharpest pains?
(a) In the smallest area of the body.
(b) In the nose.
(c) In the eye/temple area because they are close to the brain.
(d) In the heart.

5. Who wrote the "Aeneid?"
(a) Plato.
(b) Odyseus.
(c) Homer.
(d) Petronius.

6. According to Seneca in Letter LXXXVIII, what should man not strive to become?
(a) A good man.
(b) A pleasant man.
(c) A learned man.
(d) A religious man.

7. According to his criticism in Letter CVIII, what does Seneca say literary scholars should do with philosophical theories?
(a) Compare them to other theories.
(b) Apply them to their own lives.
(c) Interpret them correctly.
(d) Write fiction about them that will appeal to the masses.

8. How does Seneca spend most of his day?
(a) Exercising.
(b) Dreaming.
(c) In study.
(d) Praying.

9. What does Scipio volunteer to do?
(a) Kill Seneca.
(b) Care for the ailing Seneca.
(c) Help teach Seneca.
(d) Go into exile.

10. What does Seneca say is the greatest of all arts?
(a) Wisdom.
(b) Painting.
(c) Religion.
(d) Sculpting.

11. According to Seneca, what is the fruit of man's own efforts?
(a) Life.
(b) Philosophy.
(c) Love.
(d) Peace between nations.

12. Which of Seneca's friends grieved the burning of the town discussed in Letter XCI?
(a) Liberalis.
(b) Flaccus.
(c) Lucilius.
(d) Tibius.

13. Why does Seneca praise suicide?
(a) To cut back on medical needs of the community.
(b) He likes to challenge the legal system.
(c) He is tired of being sick.
(d) It is active, not passive.

14. According to Letter LXXXVIII, how important is the knowledge of the liberal arts to Stoicism?
(a) More important than even religion.
(b) Vital - can't understand Stoicism without a full liberal arts background.
(c) Not at all.
(d) Very important.

15. According to Letter XCI, what town was destroyed by fire?
(a) Vatican City.
(b) Lyons.
(c) Rome.
(d) Croton.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Seneca say prepares the mind for philosophy?

2. Which line of studies does Seneca say tends to have a special temptation to vanity?

3. In Letter LXXXIII, whose logic does Seneca question?

4. According to his criticism in Letter CVIII, what does Seneca say literary scholars do with philosophical theories?

5. What includes the studies of literature, rhetoric and history?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 439 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample