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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. How does Seneca say a wise man should act toward the festival celebrated in Letter XVII?

2. What kind of ailments does Seneca say become more obvious as they worsen?

3. Who advises that one ought to imagine being watched by some great, virtuous figure at all times in order to check one's own behavior?

4. What do people who attend the celebration discussed in Letter XVII do?

5. Which word is the best meaning of apatheia?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the importance to occasional fasting according to Seneca.

2. What is Seneca's theory on slavery?

3. What does Seneca say about the study of philosophy?

4. What does Seneca say about developing friendships?

5. What are Seneca's thoughts on fear and how to eliminate it from life?

6. What is a "quibbler" and what advice does Seneca offer to Lucilius about quibblers?

7. What is the difference between a Stoic and anyone else in regards to emotions?

8. What is Seneca's opinion of Vatia? How does it differ from public opinion?

9. Lucilius writes Seneca that his melancholy mood remained unchanged no matter how far he traveled from home. How does Seneca explain Lucilius' complaint?

10. According to Seneca, how much concern should a wise man have regarding his or others' physical beauty?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Seneca's retirement from Nero's court and his quest for apatheia.

Essay Topic 2

What is philosophy? What are ethics and what is the importance of ethics in philosophy?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Stoic view of death and what happens after death.

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