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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the old term for depression?

2. What drugs does Styron's doctor give him that are NOT recommended for people with depression?

3. What does Styron want us to understand about those who commit suicide?

4. Though Styron admits all professions are susceptible to depression, which profession is the most susceptible?

5. Where did Styron meet Hoffman?

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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A "touchstone text" is a text that can be used to illustrate examples of components of a type of writing style. "Darkness Visible" could be used as a touchstone text for memoir writing. Some of the components of memoir writing are: 1) focus and reflection on the relationship between the writer and a particular topic; 2) explanation of the significance of the relationship; 3) provides one impression of the subject of the memoir; 4) is limited to a particular phase, time period, place, or recurring behavior in order to develop the focus fully; 5) makes the subject of the memoir come alive; and, 6) maintains a first person point of view. Discuss and give examples from "Darkness Visible" to indicate if Styron is successful with each of the six points.

Essay Topic 2

Styron repeatedly mentions about how much a strong social support of family and friends is important to a person's recovery. He makes a slight mention of his wife as support, and a couple of friends, yet he leaves out but little of the discussion of family support. Was he trying to protect his family? What is the relationship between private and public lives? What kind of support system do you feel he had?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss in detail how Styron's illness affected him while he was in Paris to accept his award. Follow him through the course of that day and explain how changes in his mood affected him at various points during his activities that day. Explain his mood shifts by following the narrative as Styron reveals his moods to the reader.

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