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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 apocryphal slaying that St. George performed is a reference to him overcoming what?

2. Montaigne's perspective as a male is best described as which of the following?

3. What advantage does Montaigne say that women have in entering into marriage?

4. What was the name of the location that Montaigne stayed at in Rome?

5. What does Montaigne believe about action and words?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the culture of public bathing that is discussed in Montaigne's journal.

2. What are some of the powers that Roman baths are reputed to have?

3. What influences may have caused Montaigne to have a greater respect for women?

4. What disappointed Montaigne in Rome?

5. What does Montaigne say about truth?

6. What is Montaigne's general perspective?

7. Why does Montaigne admire Cato?

8. What was St. George noted for?

9. What did the notorious criminal Catena once force two men to do before he killed them?

10. How does Montaigne says that personal character is related to repentance?

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

Montaigne's own relationship with his father was formative in his life, and it affected many of his beliefs and writings.

1) Characterize the general relationship that Montaigne and his father.

2) Describe the positive character traits that Montaigne attributes to the influence of his father. Asses the validity of these attributions and discuss some other possible traits that Montaigne failed to identify in himself.

3) Discuss the major life choices that Montaigne made which were directly or indirectly affected by his father's advice and council.

4) Describe some of the ways that Montaigne was affected by the death of his father.

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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