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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. Which soldier was "as cowardly in battle as he was skilled in speech-making"?

2. Erasmus anticipates that critics will clamor that he is reviving what?

3. In which year did Erasmus date his Prefatory Letter?

4. How did Folly begin life?

5. How does Folly claim she is delivering her speech?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Erasmus dedicate his book to Thomas More?

2. Why did Erasmus consider it unjust not to allow relaxations to those in the academic world?

3. In his Prefatory Letter, did Erasmus admit he wrote Praise of Folly with sarcasm?

4. Does Folly have a good opinion of the children of wise men?

5. Did Erasmus consider The Praise of Folly too frivolous for a theologian?

6. What does Folly say is the happiest age of man, and why?

7. According to Folly, do philosophers make good kings?

8. What does Folly do for the elderly?

9. What does Folly think of people who hire someone else to praise themselves?

10. Did Erasmus anticipate criticism for his book? Why or why not?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the relationship between Self-love and Folly? How is Self-love necessary for friendship? How is deception necessary for Self-love?

Essay Topic 2

Both Erasmus in his Prefatory Letter and Folly in her speech appeal to precedents. Compare the two passages. What is the purpose of each? Whom does Erasmus reference? Whom does "Folly" reference?

Essay Topic 3

Erasmus began his book with a Prefatory Letter to his friend More. What was the purpose of this letter? What arguments does he make in it?

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