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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What happens before Styron meets with Camus?
(a) Camus leaves Paris.
(b) Camus leaves on his honeymoon.
(c) Camus dies in a car accident.
(d) Camus gets upset at Styron for his moods.

2. According to Styron, what often leads depressed people to commit suicide?
(a) Because of moral weakness and lack of character.
(b) Because depression is so deep they can't see any other way out.
(c) Because they don't love their families like other people do.
(d) Because they don't have a very strong will to live.

3. According to Styron, why is the word depression so hard for people to accept?
(a) People can't understand what it means.
(b) It is the word for a hole in the ground, which is very demeaning for a name of a major illness.
(c) It indicates a weak person.
(d) It has not been heard of before.

4. What symptoms did Jarrell suffer from that caused Styron to believe in Jarrell's suicide?
(a) He had a terminal illness and was in pain.
(b) He wanted his wife to have money and his insurance would give it to her.
(c) He often mentioned life wasn't worth living.
(d) Black despondency, violent fluctuation of mood, and his deep depression.

5. What bothers Styron so much about not being able to meet Camus?
(a) Because it meant he barely missed getting to meet the man whose writing he so admired.
(b) It meant there was another suicide in his circle of friends.
(c) It meant Camus couldn't hear about winning the award.
(d) It meant he had to go to his luncheon with Lady del Duco.

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

7. What does Styron think of these two people, who were close literary friends?
(a) He thinks they both had depression.
(b) He thinks they should have won the award.
(c) He thinks they should move to America where they would be more recognized.
(d) He doesn't think their writing was very good.

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

9. What reaction does Styron have to a flock of Canadian geese?
(a) He is frozen in anxiety at the sight of them.
(b) He thinks they are graceful.
(c) They temporarily restore his good feelings.
(d) He tries to shoot them.

10. How old was Levi when he committed his suicide?
(a) 67.
(b) 74.
(c) 26.
(d) 39.

11. What does Styron want us to understand about those who commit suicide?
(a) That they were always good writers.
(b) That they had no other way to escape.
(c) That they were weak and couldn't handle pain.
(d) That secrecy and shame are not the right reaction.

12. What percentage of artistic types who suffer from depression die from suicide?
(a) 10%.
(b) 20%.
(c) 100%.
(d) 60%.

13. Who is Styron's literary guide?
(a) Romain Gary.
(b) Albert Camus.
(c) Cino del Duca.
(d) Abbie Hoffman.

14. What happens to Gary's ex-wife?
(a) She disappeared and was never found again.
(b) She took an overdose of pills and her body was found in a car after several days.
(c) She was killed by someone, probably Gary himself.
(d) She shot herself.

15. What is Styron not able to recover?
(a) His friendships.
(b) His lucidity.
(c) His family.
(d) His fame.

Short Answer Questions

1. What happens to Styron's writing as he descends into depression?

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

3. According to Styron, what do people closest to those who commit suicide often do?

4. In what year does Styron first realize his illness could lead to his death?

5. What quote from Baudelaire does Styron use to explain his feelings?

(see the answer keys)

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