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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. The creature that Montaigne discuss near the end of Book 2 of Essays: Chapter 7, Essay #12 is known for building what?

2. At the time that Montaigne was engaged in his translation of the unusual book, what philosophy was gaining significant popularity?

3. Montaigne suggests that what element of child-rearing common in his own time is not necessary?

4. What philosopher does Montaigne quote briefly on the subject of authority?

5. Montaigne suggests that all religions are essentially what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the purpose of this book, according to Montaigne?

2. What consequences did his father's opinion on education have on Montaigne?

3. Why does Montaigne think that Christianity is superior to other religions?

4. What effects does Montaigne say that bravery can bring about in the enemy?

5. What factors in Europe tended to restrict the social status of women?

6. What unusual rule did Knights of the Spanish order that Montaigne discusses have to obey, and why?

7. What does Montaigne say about the difference between a man and an animal.

8. What is strange about the way Feudalism tends to divide territory?

9. What is Montaigne's opinion of war horses in general?

10. What does Montaigne says about the equality of vices?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Montaigne was obsessed with the nature and quality of local waters and other mundane items such as plates and cutlery. Throughout his travels, he makes careful note of the qualities of these items and appears to take great pleasure in analyzing and reporting on them.

1) Discuss the importance of local drinking water in medieval Europe, and describe some of the common features that Montaigne describes which might be out of place in modern Europe.

2) Discuss the reasons that might explain Montaigne's interest in these subjects.

3) Describe Montaigne's general opinion about the quality of water and other common goods and wares available throughout the areas he visited compared to those available in his home country.

Essay Topic 2

Montaigne believes solitude to be exceedingly important in the pursuit of honestly and unfiltered self-analysis, a goal he regards as being objectively desirable. He claims that one's thought and words are affected by others, even if only out of politeness and sociability, and that this filtering acts to hinder proper, honest thought.

1) Explain why Montaigne believes that achieving honest self-analysis is a desirable goal. Discuss some of the prerequisites that Montaigne sees as being necessary for achieving this goal.

2) Discuss the effect that Montaigne believes other people have on an individual's thought processes. Is this reaction essential good or bad? Is it dishonest or sincere?

3) Describe the importance that Montaigne places on solitude, and what he believes people should do to benefit most from the experience of solitude. How does this belief tie into his assertion about self-analysis?

Essay Topic 3

"The Apology of Reymond Sebond", a major work in the medieval era, was of great interest to Montaigne, who translated a copy of it into French. He believed that the arguments is contained were of great importance to both Christians and non-Christians.

1) Discuss, in general, the content of Reymond Sebond's work, and describe its place in the intellectual discourse in Montaigne's time.

2) Describe some of the reasons that Montaigne regarded Sebond's work as being particularly important and influential.

3) Summarize the major points that Montaigne makes about this work, and any of the major weaknesses that he identifies.

4) Asses, overall, how meaningful and important Sebond's work was in its era.

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