View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Letter 7, Abelard to Heloise.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Abelard say women acted in the early church?
(a) He says that women were the first to ask for rules of worship.
(b) He says that women were among the first to persecute the apostles.
(c) He says that women doubted Christ's divinity.
(d) He says that women were devoted to Christ early on.

2. What does Abelard say motivated him to tell Heloise the things that filled her with despair?
(a) Desire to share in suffering out of love.
(b) Desire to fill her soul with awe and desire for repentance.
(c) Desire to educate her about man's wicked ways.
(d) Desire for God's forgiveness.

3. What does Heloise ask Abelard to think about?
(a) What her father can do for them.
(b) What she can do for him.
(c) What he owes her.
(d) Whether they ought to see each other again.

4. Why does Heloise argue for special dispensations?
(a) She does not want certain nuns to be sent away from the convent.
(b) Not everyone can emulate the sufferings of Christ the same way.
(c) Monastic life should not be imposed on people who will only fail at it.
(d) Monastic life was designed for ascetics, not for everyone.

5. What sin does Abelard remind Heloise of?
(a) Making love at the refectory.
(b) Falling in love before being married.
(c) Enjoying their lovemaking.
(d) Getting married in secret.

Short Answer Questions

1. What are Heloise's feelings at losing Abelard?

2. Where is weakness taken into account, according to Heloise?

3. What does Abelard ask Heloise to consider?

4. What did the woman do, whom Abelard cited in Letter 7?

5. Why does Abelard say that Heloise deserves praise?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 329 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample