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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 writes that a wife should guard against her husband, regarding him as if he were what?

2. What famous work by St. Thomas Aquinas significantly affects Montaigne?

3. The journeys that Montaigne describes in his travel journal mostly occurred between what years?

4. Why did Montaigne write his travel journals?

5. Montaigne's perspective causes him to focus on what?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to the note at the beginning of Book 3 of Essays: Chapter 12, why is the editor interested in Montaigne's travel journals?

2. What was Montaigne interested in learning about in Trent?

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

4. Why does Montaigne admire Cato?

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

6. Describe the changes in languages that Montaigne encounters during the travels discussed in Travel Journal: Chapter 13?

7. What church promotion occurred in Trent while Montaigne was there?

8. How does Montaigne say that he was able to deal with the restrictions of marriage?

9. What qualities interest Montaigne about public water?

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

The subject of repentance is central to Montaigne's religion, and he expresses sincere and powerful opinions on the subject, making clear distinctions about what can be repented for, and how this act can be cathartic or destructive.

1) Discuss what repentance means to Montaigne, why it is important to a healthy spiritual life, and how its misuse can be harmful.

2) Describe the limits and rules that Montaigne recommends for repentance. What type of acts does he say cannot be repented of?

3) Discuss Montaigne's assessment of the importance of repentance in Christianity and in Catholicism specifically. Explain how these ideas relate to Montaigne's own opinions.

Essay Topic 2

Montaigne embarked on a major journey before taking up office in Bordeaux, and the exhaustive travel journals from that trip comprise the last major work of the book.

1) Discuss Montaigne's reasons for making his journey. Based on information about the culture of the time, would his journey be seen as normal, or unusual?

2) Describe the route that Montaigne followed, and its significance in the broader context of medieval culture.

3) Summarize Montaigne's goals and assess whether or not he achieved them during his journey.

4) Describe any other unexpected benefits that Montaigne derived from his travels.

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.

(see the answer keys)

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