View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapters 6 and 7.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When is depression at its worst?
(a) A blue state.
(b) Madness.
(c) Fake feelings of sadness.
(d) Painful sorrow.

2. What does Styron say about alcohol's mood-altering characteristics?
(a) It had no effect on his mood.
(b) It is a depressant, but didn't depress him.
(c) It is an upper, but depressed him.
(d) It lightened his mood for a good amount of time.

3. How does Styron feel about his Connecticut farmhouse?
(a) He loves spending time there.
(b) He thinks it needed lots of work.
(c) It feels ominous to him.
(d) He hates the house, preferring Martha's Vineyard.

4. What does Gary confess to Styron about Camus's depression?
(a) He knew Camus was going to commit suicide and did nothing about it.
(b) That Gary saw the same depression in himself, though it was controlled.
(c) He didn't believe Camus really suffered from depression.
(d) He had tried to convince Camus to get help.

5. What does Styron say about assigning reasons for suicide to those who take that route?
(a) That people who commit suicide don't love their families.
(b) That people who commit suicide are justified in doing it.
(c) Most of the time the cause is not one incident, but overwhelming depression.
(d) That only weak people commit suicide.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Styron believe about a depressed colleague's decision to ride with a reckless driver?

2. In what way does Styron's depression come upon him?

3. What is the term Styron uses to better describe what is happening to a person with depression?

4. What does Styron realize in Paris that helps him understand what is happening to him?

5. Though Styron feels alone, who is always with him?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 384 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample