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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. Montaigne suggests that all religions are essentially what?

2. What does Montaigne say about how bad a vice lying is in general?

3. What does the unusual rule Montaigne discusses in Book 1 of Essays: Chapter 3, Essay #48 stipulate?

4. How many terms did Montaigne serve in office in Bordeaux?

5. What subject does the first essay from Book 2 center on?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

5. What problem does Henry, the duke of Normandy, experience in one of Montaigne's stories?

6. Why was Montaigne arrested in Paris in 1588?

7. How does Montaigne suggest that a liar can be caught?

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

9. What does Montaigne say about marriage near the end of Book 2 of Essays: Chapter 5?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

During his travels, Montaigne encounters a wide range of languages in colloquial use, reflecting the rapidly changing political landscape that results from the pressures and oddities of the feudal system.

1) Describe some of the unusual trends in language use that Montaigne witnessed during his travels. Which language stood out the most, and why?

2) Montaigne was somewhat disappointed to discover that foreigners often spoke with him in French. Describe the prominence of the French language in the countries that Montaigne visited and discuss the reasons for this phenomenon.

3) Relate the spread and persistence of foreign-language use to the feudal political system that dominated medieval Europe.

Essay Topic 2

The Protestant Revolution was a major event still in its development in Europe in Montaigne's time. Leaders like Martin Luther and John Calvin sparked a revolution in religion that led to numerous civil and religious wars.

1) Explain the origins of the protestant revolution as explained by Montaigne, including its leaders, major philosophical and religious works, and its ideological basis.

2) Discuss Montaigne's opinion about the spread of protestant ideas and the subject of censorship.

3) Describe some of the impacts that the ongoing protestant revolution had on Europe in Montaigne's time, including the frequent religious wars and internal strife that it caused. What effects did these event have on Montaigne?

Essay Topic 3

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.

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