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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. In what does Augustine try to be honest?

2. Where does Augustine go to study?

3. What is a flaw in the book in number 70?

4. Why does Augustine read books of rhetoric?

5. What is the name of a book Augustine wrote that he later lost?

Short Essay Questions

1. What gives Augustine an excuse to continue following his baser desires?

2. Where does Augustine want to move and why?

3. What is Augustine's thinking on marriage?

4. What kind of pressure does Augustine feel as a young person and what does he do about it?

5. What are Augustine's reflections on life and death?

6. What did Augustine write about that involved a theft of pears and how did he feel about it?

7. What does Augustine fear about the effect of studying pagan myths when he was young?

8. Where is Augustine a student in Carthage and why does he study so diligently?

9. As a young man how does Augustine feel about love and what doesn't he understand about it?

10. What type of religion ensnares Augustine's interest?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Book III, Augustine wonders on the lack of even the basic morality of observance of the Ten Commandments in his vicinity.

1. Of what do you think Augustine believes basic morality consists? Give examples from the text and your personal experience.

2. Do you think Augustine sees a lack of morals because he himself suffers from that lack? In other words, is Augustine projecting his own lack of morals on those around him? Why or why not?

3. Research the ten commandments and choose the two you think Augustine has the most difficulty at this point in his life keeping. What are they? Give examples to demonstrate why you think he does not keep those commandments.

Essay Topic 2

It is mentioned in Book III that the Manicheans believe that when a fig is picked off a fig tree, it cries tears. Later, Augustine sees as ridiculous this idea and many others that the Manicheans believe. Discuss the following ideas:

1. Just because humans cannot measure how a plant experiences life, is that reason to believe that a tree cannot cry when its fruit is picked?

2. Many people (particularly Aboriginal peoples) do not adhere to the Judeo-Christian ideas of human beings as superior to all other of the created earth. When Augustine becomes a Christian, he seems to move from a nature-centered belief system to one that is man-centered. Do you see this as a step forward?

3. The second part to the Manichean beliefs of the fig tree is that they give the fig to their "Elect" people, who by eating it, the Manicheans believe, release angels from the fig. If what thought of this as a metaphor, what do you think the metaphor could represent?

Essay Topic 3

In book V, Augustine wants to move to Rome, in Italy. He hears that the students are much more disciplined there. In Carthage, students would walk in and out of class during a lecture and certain students would be very disruptive. Augustine hears that this type of behavior is not tolerated at schools in Rome.

1. Compare and contrast students in that age to those in the present day.

2. What do you think it means to be a "student?" Give examples and think about this idea "outside the box." Can you relate your ideas to Augustine as a student?

3. What do you think it means to be a "teacher?" Give examples and think about this idea "outside the box." Can you relate your ideas to Augustine as a teacher?

(see the answer keys)

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