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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. Why is darkness shocking, according to Burke?

2. How does Burke define "proportion?"

3. What size of objects does Burke consider "beautiful?"

4. What type of poetry operates by imitation?

5. To what does a "clear" expression relate?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Paraphrase Burke's definition of beauty and the distinction he makes between love and lust or desire.

4. Why, according to Burke, is proportion not the cause of beauty in vegetation and animals?

5. How does Burke use women as examples to demonstrate some of the aspects of beauty?

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

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

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

9. To what effect does Burke use the example of Campanella?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Select three examples from anywhere in the text of what you would consider scientific methodology in Burke's writing. These may be specific examples he cites (such as his personal anecdotes or the selections from literature he reads), the structure or progression of his subjects or thought process in a section on a specific topic, or his tone as he considers the nature of things beautiful or sublime. Consider how Burke's methodology is, in itself, rather scientific in nature. For each example you selected, write a synopsis of why the selection seems scientific in nature to you. To be "scientific" in nature is, for example, to test one's theories somehow, to consider other theories in relation to one's own, to give evidence that supports one's theories, to maintain a tone of professional, instead of personal, interest, and so on.

Essay Topic 2

How does Burke define proportion, and under which human faculty does it fall? Why, according to Burke, is proportion not the cause of beauty in vegetation and animals? What examples does Burke use to prove this point? In his discussion of proportionality among human figures, what censure does Burke lay upon advocates of proportion-as-beauty? What influence does the theme of nature vs. artifice have upon Burke's perceptions of proportion and beauty?

Essay Topic 3

Summarize Locke's idea of the nature of darkness and Burke's idea of the nature of darkness. Where do they differ? Why does Burke think differently than Locke, and what examples does he use to support his opinion? How does darkness affect the body and the mind, according to Burke? Do you think the cultural associations we have with darkness (the general theme of it and the common things it symbolizes) can be relevant to our view of darkness, in addition to or instead of Burke's opinion of darkness' nature?

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