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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 is the old term for depression?
(a) Mania.
(b) Manic depressive.
(c) Melancholia.
(d) Mental deficit.

2. What drugs does Styron's doctor give him that are NOT recommended for people with depression?
(a) Halcion and Ativan.
(b) Prozac and Ativan.
(c) Halcion and Ibuprofen.
(d) Penicillin and Halcion.

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

4. Though Styron admits all professions are susceptible to depression, which profession is the most susceptible?
(a) Doctors.
(b) Lawyers.
(c) School teacherrs.
(d) Artistic types.

5. Where did Styron meet Hoffman?
(a) At a writer's conference.
(b) At the del Duco award dinner.
(c) At a democratic convention.
(d) He had never really met him, only talked to him.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Styron say about assigning reasons for suicide to those who take that route?

2. What does Styron say is the most universal symptom of depression?

3. What does Styron say depression is like?

4. Why doesn't Styron recognize Camus's depression?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What role does Styron say friends and family play for the person with depression?

3. 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?

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

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

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

7. What is known about the causes of depression, according to Styron?

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

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

10. Why were the new medicines becoming available in the 1980's and Dr. Gold's approach to them indicative of how depression was viewed and treated during that time? Why was it not sufficient?

(see the answer keys)

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