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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What did Styron do for Hoffman regarding a political demonstration led by Hoffman?
(a) Referred him to a psychiatrist in New York.
(b) Testified for him at a trial in Chicago.
(c) Introduced him to Lady del Duco in hopes of winning the award in the future.
(d) He never really met Hoffman, so didn't do anything for him.

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

3. 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) That the lawyer/narrator would want to kill himself.
(d) It was a good narrative of what a depressed person experiences.

4. What happens to Styron's writing as he descends into depression?
(a) It eventually becomes non-existent.
(b) He gets published much easier.
(c) His writing doesn't make sense.
(d) He begins to write much faster and more productively.

5. What does Gary reveal to Styron about the effect the death of his ex-wife had on him?
(a) He was afraid she had committed suicide.
(b) He began to suffer greatly from deep depression.
(c) He finally felt free again.
(d) He was afraid he would be suspected in her death.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Styron say the award he received should have done for him?

2. What does Styron say would cause many depression-related suicides?

3. Where does Styron spend his summers?

4. What does Styron say he will do with the prize money he won?

5. What bothers Styron about his meeting with Gary's estranged wife?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Styron and his drinking habits and how did that affect him?

2. What did the suicides of several of his friends, who had distinguished careers and were obviously intelligent and known for their strong character, cause Styron to do? How was his beliefs opposed to the general public view?

3. What reasons might be given for Styron not having been hospitalized earlier?

4. What happened to Romain Gary, Styron's friend, as a result of his depression?

5. What about the hospital was conducive to Styron's rapid recovery after months of intense suffering?

6. Discuss how Styron says he attempted to handle the increasing malaise that began to overcome him beginning in the summer.

7. Who did Styron say the depressed person was dangerous to, and why?

8. What does Styron say about the causes of depression?

9. Why wasn't Styron concerned about Camus, his ex-wife, and Gary when he learned they were suffering from depression?

10. What indications of Gary's depression did Styron mention?

(see the answer keys)

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