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

2. 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 finally felt free again.
(c) He began to suffer greatly from deep depression.
(d) He was afraid he would be suspected in her death.

3. Though Styron feels alone, who is always with him?
(a) His children.
(b) His friend, Gary.
(c) His psychiatrist.
(d) His wife, Rose.

4. Sir Walter Scott and the Brontes linked what two illnesses interchangeably?
(a) Lukemia and depression.
(b) Cancer and depression.
(c) Melancholia and hypochondria.
(d) Influenza and depression.

5. Though the death of the poet, Randall Jarrell, was ruled accidental, why does Styron say it was probably suicide?
(a) Because of Jarrell's depression and the fact there was no reason for him to be on the road on which he was struck by a car.
(b) He wanted to discredit Jarrell because of a disagreement they had.
(c) He didn't want Jarrell's widow to receive the large insurance settlement.
(d) He wanted to gain support for his theory that depression led to suicide.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is the doctor from Johns Hopkins who gave the name depression to the disease?

2. Which group of people does depression never happen to?

3. What does Styron believe about a depressed colleague's decision to ride with a reckless driver?

4. What percentage of artistic types who suffer from depression die from suicide?

5. Why does Styron say that physical symptoms accompany depression?

Short Essay Questions

1. What statistics did Styron give about depression and suicide?

2. Why did Styron refuse to go to a luncheon with Simone del Duca, even though he had made an appointment to do so?

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

4. What sort of therapy was used to help Styron overcome his depression?

5. What happened to Styron's body as he succumbed to depression?

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

7. What did Styron have to say about hospitalization for depressed people?

8. How did Dr. Gold's approach compare to the way the parish priest approached Emma in "Madame Bovary"?

9. What did Styron tell the reader about the incidence of depression and artistic types? Who are some artistic types who suffered from depression?

10. What did the suicide of several of Styron's friends lead him to do, and what was the result of this action?

(see the answer keys)

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