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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 bothers Styron about his meeting with Gary's estranged wife?
2. What does Styron believe about a depressed colleague's decision to ride with a reckless driver?
3. Who is Styron's literary guide?
4. How does Camus's essay influence Stryon's philosophy of life?
5. After Primo Levi's suicide, what causes Styron to question the common view that those who commit suicide are weak and inept?
Short Essay Questions
1. What did Styron say about someone being able to describe depression?
2. What did Styron say caused the incipient insomnia that depressed people often experienced?
3. How did Dr. Gold's approach compare to the way the parish priest approached Emma in "Madame Bovary"?
4. What did Styron say about the impression his intense thoughts of suicide would have on others?
5. What event caused Styron to realize he needed to go to the hospital?
6. How did Styron begin preparing for his death?
7. Why did Styron say he believes he lost the award check?
8. What did Styron discover about himself in Paris, during one of his more lucid moments?
9. What sort of attachments did Styron form as his depression progressed?
10. What about the hospital was conducive to Styron's rapid recovery after months of intense suffering?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
The title of Styron's book, "Darkness Visible," comes from a quote from Milton's "Paradise Lost," describing Hell. Discuss why Styron might have chosen such a work to quote from. What about his condition might have led him to be attracted to such a work? What is the significance of choosing a quote describing hell to open his memoir on depression?
Essay Topic 2
Discuss what Styron's purpose is for writing "Darkness Visible." What might he want us to know and understand about his subject? Include what he states openly as well as what you understand him to want to say. Why does he think it is important to make us understand this?
Essay Topic 3
One of the characteristics of a good memoir is for the author to take one position in relevance to the topic. Does Styron effectively take one position in relation to depression? Give proof of your position from the book. What references from the book support his taking a certain stance, or did he fail to do that? What is his position (s) in reference to depression?
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This section contains 1,069 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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