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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 does the suicide of another of Styron's friends lead him to believe?
(a) That he would soon have to face the fact that his own suicide is his only way out.
(b) That his friends must be weak.
(c) That life isn't worth living.
(d) That he isn't a very good friend to others since he can't help them.

2. What brings about Styron's flashback at the beginning of the story?
(a) Winning the award.
(b) Visiting the museum.
(c) Seeing his two friends.
(d) Seeing the Hotel.

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

4. What does Styron realize in Paris that helps him understand what is happening to him?
(a) He can't think clearly anymore.
(b) He can't talk to his wife any more.
(c) The circadian cycle gives him moments of brief respite from the deep depression, giving clarity of thought.
(d) He begins to cry incessantly and realizes he is depressed.

5. In the depth of his depression in Paris, what does Styron realize he would have to decide?
(a) Whether to tell his wife or not.
(b) The philosophical question of whether life is worth living or not.
(c) Whether to admit it to the press or not.
(d) What doctor to see about it.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. Why is Styron not worried about the loss?

3. How old was Styron when he published his first novel?

4. How long does Stryon say it will be before he returns to Paris?

5. When is depression at its worst?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. For the most part, the people Styron list as suffering from depression are artistic types or philosophers. Discuss why this may be so?

3. What was the paradox Styron described about the hospital as opposed to his own home?

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

5. What are some of the ways Styron indicated he had thought of as a means to commit his own suicide?

6. What sort of attachments did Styron form as his depression progressed?

7. What devastating therapy did Styron avoid, and why did he say he was able to avoid it?

8. What did Styron discover about himself in Paris, during one of his more lucid moments?

9. Styron describes what common factor among almost all depressed persons contemplating suicide?

10. Why was depression such a hard thing for Styron in 1985?

(see the answer keys)

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