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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 note say inside Sophie's first envelope?

2. What do philosophers keep that babies have and adults lose?

3. What does Jesus say that he wants to bring to the whole world?

4. During the Renaissance, what did philosophers believe?

5. What is Spinoza's philosophy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why were ancient people angry when they spoke to Socrates and he claimed not to know anything?

2. What did Sophie learn from working with Legos in connection to Democritus?

3. Are the postcard that is addressed to Hilde, and Alberto's decision to teach Sophie in person, connected? Why?

4. What is Sophie's den symbolic of? How?

5. Epicureans believe in seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. Is this a theme of the novel? Why?

6. Why does Sophie continue to do this homework, even though it is not required of her?

7. Why does Alberto dress in costume to reflect his teachings? Does this enhance his lessons?

8. Why does Sophie's mother handle her daughter's relationship with Alberto so calmly?

9. Do people today, as the Greeks did, believe in fate or predestination? What are examples?

10. What kind of teacher is Alberto? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the chapter titles. The first title is "The Garden of Eden." Why would Gaarder begin his novel this way? Some of the titles are simplistic, such as the names of philosophers. Others have more meaning. Analyze these titles and relate them to the deeper meaning presented in the corresponding chapter.

Essay Topic 2

What is the main theme of this novel? Consider ideas past the philosophers' theories. What message did these philosophers have for the audience?

Essay Topic 3

Sophie immediately begins her Philosophy assignments. Is it odd for a young girl to do this extra work when she does not know who sends it to her? Why? How does this indicate from the beginning that the novel will be a mix of the ordinary and bizarre?

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