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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Chapter 4.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What philosophical question does Gary present as central to all philosophy; a question that confuses Styron until years later when he suffers his depression?
(a) Are all suicides due to weak character?
(b) Does man depend on other men?
(c) Is life worth living?
(d) Why does life have hardships?

2. What puzzles Styron about Camus's book, "The Fall"?
(a) The title didn't fit the story.
(b) It was written so brilliantly though Camus was depressed.
(c) It was a good narrative of what a depressed person experiences.
(d) That the lawyer/narrator would want to kill himself.

3. Why is it hard for Styron to recognize depression in his friend, Gary?
(a) Because he rarely talked to Gary.
(b) Because Gary was so good at hiding his feelings.
(c) Because Gary always had a melancholy typical of Europeans.
(d) Because he didn't know what depression looked like.

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 had tried to convince Camus to get help.
(d) He didn't believe Camus really suffered from depression.

5. How old was Styron when he published his first novel?
(a) 15.
(b) 35.
(c) Mid-20's.
(d) 40.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Styron think of these two people, who were close literary friends?

2. What does Styron want us to understand about those who commit suicide?

3. Though Styron admits all professions are susceptible to depression, which profession is the most susceptible?

4. Where did Styron meet Hoffman?

5. What brings about Styron's flashback at the beginning of the story?

(see the answer key)

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