View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Styron say would cause many depression-related suicides?
(a) Lack of medicines to treat depression.
(b) Lack of awareness by others about the intensity of the pain.
(c) Lack of psychiatric treatment protocols.
(d) Lack of moral strength by the depressed person.

2. What two substances contribute to Styron's depression?
(a) Heroin and tobacco.
(b) Cocaine and alcohol.
(c) Alcohol and Halcion.
(d) Tobacco and alcohol.

3. What does Styron believe about a depressed colleague's decision to ride with a reckless driver?
(a) That his friend didn't have any choice about who to ride with.
(b) That it was a form of suicide.
(c) That his friend didn't want to embarrass his friend by refusing a ride.
(d) That he probably didn't know the driver was so reckless.

4. According to Styron, how many women have won the Prix Mondial Cino del Duca award?
(a) None.
(b) Twenty-five.
(c) More women than men.
(d) Only five.

5. What quote from Baudelaire does Styron use to explain his feelings?
(a) "I have felt the wind of the wing of madness."
(b) "Madness breeds madness."
(c) "Man's madness is his downfall."
(d) "Madness is but a figment of the imagination."

6. What bothers Styron about his meeting with Gary's estranged wife?
(a) That Gary was letting his estranged wife live with him.
(b) That he didn't understand her deep depression and what it meant.
(c) Their son was caught between their differences.
(d) Gary's wife wasn't very involved with her son.

7. What does Styron think after his flashback?
(a) That he has come full circle.
(b) That he did have some good times in the past.
(c) That his life has been great.
(d) That he didn't like visiting Paris.

8. What does Styron call the DSM?
(a) A good manual.
(b) A guide to treatment.
(c) The psychiatrist's bible.
(d) Very inaccurate guide.

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

10. How does Camus's essay influence Stryon's philosophy of life?
(a) It makes him realize life is too short.
(b) It makes him realize mankind's responsibility for the larger world.
(c) It makes him realize depression could be overcome if the person just cheered himself up.
(d) It makes him realize depression was a personal thing.

11. What does Styron say he will do with the prize money he won?
(a) Retire early and write.
(b) Give it all to charity.
(c) Give most to charity but save a small portion for a personal matter.
(d) Pay off all old debts so he could concentrate on writing.

12. Which group of people have more incidence of depression than all others?
(a) Poor people.
(b) Children.
(c) Women suffer more than any other group of people.
(d) Rich people.

13. According to Styron, what do people closest to those who commit suicide often do?
(a) Grieve longer than for death from other reasons.
(b) Deny that the death was suicide.
(c) Denounce their loved one.
(d) Begin suffering from depression and are in danger of suicide also.

14. What clues does Gary reveal that Styron later learns was probably signs of deep depression?
(a) Lack of cohesive thought.
(b) Withdrawal from friendships.
(c) Constant weepiness.
(d) Shaky hands and weak, quiet voice.

15. What does Styron lose at the luncheon in Paris?
(a) Control of his anger.
(b) His best friend.
(c) His mind.
(d) His check for $25,000.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is Styron not able to recover?

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

3. What symptoms did Jarrell suffer from that caused Styron to believe in Jarrell's suicide?

4. What does Styron say is the most universal symptom of depression?

5. Where did Styron meet Hoffman?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 685 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample