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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 quality of mind does Burke find in women that he thinks is analogous to fragility?

2. Which is one of the examples Burke cites to demonstrate the sublime in poetry?

3. What examples does Burke use to prove that human proportionality does not necessarily equal human beauty?

4. How does Burke define "blackness?"

5. What statement summarizes the real effects of fitness, as described by Burke?

Short Essay Questions

1. What example does Burke use to demonstrate that perfection is not the cause of beauty?

2. In his discussion of proportionality among human figures, what censure does Burke lay upon advocates proportion-as-beauty?

3. How does Burke define ugliness, and how does Burke relate ugliness to beauty?

4. Briefly summarize the three classes of words that Burke identifies.

5. According to Burke, why is the taste of sweetness pleasant, and how does he decide this?

6. According to Burke, how does the human eye work?

7. What types of sounds, smells, and tastes can be considered beautiful, according to Burke?

8. What are the physical effects of fear and pain, and what is the difference between fear and pain, as observed by Burke?

9. Why are small objects more suited to the beautiful and large objects more suitable to the sublime, according to Burke?

10. What is the "real" cause of beauty, according to Burke?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the three classes of words that Burke identifies, and summarize his reasons for classifying language in this manner. Give examples of all three classes of words, and explain why your examples are appropriate. How does Burke differentiate between the three classes of words? What does Burke accomplish by categorizing language? What three primary effects do words have upon a listener or a reader, and how are these effects manifested? How does Burke explain that words may have an effect without raising images in the listener or reader's mind. How do words not connected to concrete or sensible things affect the mind? Which categories of words does Burke attach to certain effects? What kinds of words are the strongest and have the greatest effects upon the listener or reader?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the physical effects of fear and pain, as observed by Burke. How do people in pain look or sound, and what is their state of mind? What passions could they be experiencing? What is the difference Burke identifies between fear and pain, as related to the body and the mind? How can pain be a cause of delight, in everyday life and in effecting the sublime? What examples does Burke use to prove this point?

Essay Topic 3

What is unique about the historical figure of Campanella, as related by Burke? To what effect does Burke employ the example of Campanella? How does Burke's relation of his own experiences reinforce this example? What is the significance of Campanella's story to our understanding of the connection between mind and body? Have you ever encountered this phenomenon yourself, and if so, does it seem to be true? What implications or significance (social, spiritual, or otherwise) do Campanella's abilities have?

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