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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. Styron calls depression:

2. What is unusual about Styron's visit to Paris?

3. What causes Styron to lose his voice in Paris?

4. What symptoms did Jarrell suffer from that caused Styron to believe in Jarrell's suicide?

5. What two substances contribute to Styron's depression?

Short Essay Questions

1. Styron gave little credence to his outpatient therapy, but said what about the 50 minutes involved?

2. How did Styron begin preparing for his death?

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

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

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

6. What did the diary represent to Styron? What did he do with it?

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

8. Why did Cino del Duca, whom the award was named for, decide to publish works of literary merit?

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

10. What was Styron doing that was harming him, making his depression worse, though he thought it was helping?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Styron's thoughts about human resiliency and social report and provide examples from the book. How important are each of these to an individual's recovery and survival?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Styron's account of his treatment, including his treatment during hospitalization, and its impact on his recovery. Use examples from the book to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Critics have indicated that Styron left much of his personal journey out of the book. As a memoir of madness, we might expect, and deserve, to read more of Styron's journey through madness. Yet, he didn't include it. Why might this be? Would the book have been better or worse if more detail of the struggle had been included? Do you think leaving out the information was by plan or by accident? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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