1. What message does the lover hope to send through his asceticism?
(a) He wants to show off his learning to his friends.
(b) He wants to make his mother feel guilty.
(c) He wants to convince society that he is worthy of love.
(d) He wants to display his askesis as something caused by the other so that person will yield.

2. In "Inexpressible Love," what two powerful myths does the author mention?
(a) That writing about love heals the heart and that everyone has a soulmate.
(b) That sublimated love engenders beautiful discourse and that one can write about one's passion.
(c) That true love is eternal and that it is the most ancient story to tell.
(d) That true love can never be found and that only poets can write about love.

3. What is the best form in which to tell the story of love?
(a) Personal letters.
(b) Ancient, declamatory drama.
(c) The novel.
(d) Poetry.

4. In "The Tip of the Nose/Alteration," what does "the tip of the nose" refer to?
(a) The nose of a German poet.
(b) The slightly decayed nose of a disinterred corpse.
(c) A figure in a Flemish painting.
(d) A photograph of the author's mother.

5. What does the term "alteration" refer to in this section of the text?
(a) To a sewing procedure, which is a metaphor in the text.
(b) To the missing tip of a nose, and nothing else.
(c) To the production of a counter-image of the loved object.
(d) To the rejection of perfection by the lover.

Short Answer Questions

1. At the beginning of the book, in the section entitled, "How this book is structured," what is the name that the author uses to describe the different sections of the book?

2. In Blue Coat and Yellow Vest/habiliment, what specifically does the "blue coat and yellow vest" refer to?

3. What happens when one speaks of love in the objective?

4. "Intractable/Affirmation" discusses which of the following themes?

5. What three things can shatter the ideal and protected Image of the lover according to the author?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 454 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample