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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What is a common occurrence in people planning suicide?
(a) A revision of their will.
(b) A second self who observes the self planning its destruction.
(c) Sending all family away for a time.
(d) Detailed plans for their death.

2. Styron dates the onset of his deep depression to what event?
(a) His inability to drink alcohol.
(b) His wife's leaving him.
(c) The death of several of his friends.
(d) His chilren all leaving home.

3. What is the second stage of psychological development in depression?
(a) Suicide.
(b) Physical pain.
(c) Euphoria.
(d) Dependency.

4. Though depression tends to recur, what advantage do sufferers of recurrence have?
(a) They know the best doctors and hospitals to use.
(b) Their family knows what to do for them.
(c) They are already on medicines.
(d) They know it is curable and know how to work through it.

5. What does Styron do about his physical disabilities?
(a) He undergoes several thousands of dollars of testing to find out he was physically fine.
(b) Welcomes the possibility that he might die from one of them.
(c) Stops work and stays at home.
(d) Gets scared he was going to die.

6. How does Styron indicate he was planning to die?
(a) He dresses nicely for the person who will find him.
(b) He gathers a knife and some towels.
(c) He revises his will and tries to write a goodbye letter.
(d) He sends his wife away for a time so he would be alone.

7. For Styron, what is the most devastating loss of physical functions?
(a) His sexual drive.
(b) His agility and interest in sports.
(c) His ability to stay awake during the day.
(d) His ability to sleep and lack of dreaming.

8. From Job to Styron's day, he says artists and writers have been trying to do what?
(a) Build better relationships to overcome depression.
(b) Explain the blackness of the fantasia of depression.
(c) Overcome the effects of depression that overcome artists.
(d) Cheer up people who suffer from depression with their works.

9. What is the phenomenon in which young victims of loss harbor guilt and rage for their entire lives?
(a) Fear and anxiety.
(b) Depression.
(c) Incomplete mourning.
(d) Lack of bonding.

10. At the dinner party, how does Styron react to the four friends?
(a) He brags through the whole dinner party about his accomplishments.
(b) He gets angry and speaks hatefully to them.
(c) He cries throughout the dinner because of his depression.
(d) He is catatonic and does not speak.

11. What term does Styron use to describe his depression?
(a) A hole in his heart.
(b) A deep hole.
(c) A black tempest.
(d) An excruciating pain.

12. What reaction does Styron have to group therapy?
(a) He has no reaction to it, and just endures it.
(b) It makes him seeth but gives him a way to pass the time.
(c) It is the major source of his healing.
(d) He doesn't participate.

13. What note does Styron want to copy for his goodbye letter?
(a) "This is the end. Don't mourn."
(b) "No more words; an act. I'll never write again."
(c) "Life is no longer worth it."
(d) "I am sorry for any pain I cause. My pain is greater."

14. Which writer does Styron quote as saying he had "lost the right path"?
(a) Shakespeare.
(b) Camus.
(c) Gary.
(d) Dante.

15. How does Styron describe his recovery from depression?
(a) He says he suddenly felt like a body with sweet bodily juices flowing through him.
(b) He says he wasn't sure he was cured.
(c) He says he was suddenly ecstatic.
(d) He says it was a slow, painful process.

Short Answer Questions

1. Which novel character does Styron compare himself with?

2. Why does Styron say he was betrayed the summer before he was hospitalized?

3. What is Styron's reaction to being admitted to the hospital?

4. Why did Styron's publisher have to reschedule a photo session?

5. What piece of music moves Styron to his breakthrough and hospitalization?

(see the answer keys)

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