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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 age does Montaigne recommend that males remain virgins until?

2. What century did Montaigne live in?

3. The noble who is discussed in Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 4, Essay #46 rules what region?

4. Near the end of Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 3, the two men that Montaigne discusses are cured of their affliction through what?

5. In Book 2 of Essays, Essay #11, Montaigne contrasts virtue with what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Montaigne say that parental affection is important for a child's development?

2. What dose Montaigne say are the consequences of failing to provide a child with parental affection?

3. What was the unusual book that Montaigne translated for his father?

4. Why does Montaigne use few quotations from women in his essays?

5. What dose Montaigne say that soldiers sometimes have to resort to for survival?

6. What decision does the soldier have to make in Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 2, Essay #3?

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

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

9. How does Montaigne suggest that virtue is different from kindliness?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Montaigne believes in the reality of objective truth, ideas that exist in a perfect state, without the need for human interpretation. He believes that although he, and all other humans, are imperfect interpreters of these truths, they cannot be diminished or tarnished in any way by human failings.

1) Discuss the concept of truth that Montaigne articulates in his essays. How are truths understood and derived, and where do they come from? How do human beings interact with the truth?

2) Montaigne suggests that he may contradict himself from time to time. Discuss one example of this, and describe how Montaigne might explain his mistake. How would he justify the perfection of the truth he was attempting to express in the face of this contradiction?

3) Discuss the importance of the concept of objective truth in some of Montaigne's other philosophies. How does it relate to these other ideas, and how are his arguments bolstered by a reliance on objective truth?

Essay Topic 2

The issue of parenting is very important to Montaigne, and his views on the subject are surprisingly modern. He has a great deal to say about proper methods of parenting, especially from the perspective of the father.

1) Explain the role does Montaigne believe a father should fill in a child's life, including his duties and responsibilities.

2) Discuss Montaigne's assessment of the importance of parental affection. How much attention does Montaigne recommend, and why does he believe this topic to be of particular importance?

3) Discuss Montaigne's stance on the issue of discipline and punishment for children. Why does he recommend against the use of physical punishment?

Essay Topic 3

Throughout his life, Montaigne was touched by the effects of death, and mortality was a constant but understated part of his thoughts and beliefs.

1) Summarize the losses that Montaigne experienced during his lifetime.

2) Discuss the impact that these losses had on Montaigne, and the reasons he had for avoiding writing about them in his works.

3) Describe the effect that mortality had on Montaigne's thinking and his works.

4) Describe how Montaigne was able to cope with the frequent loss of life that he witnessed.

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