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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 phrase does the young man fling about according to the author?

2. Why does the author say he fights for Either/Or in his letter to the young man?

3. On the whole, what does the author say it is to choose?

4. Why does the author say the young man is afraid of continuity?

5. How does the author describe the way of history?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the relationship between the ethical and the aesthetic?

2. Explain how the author uses the metaphor of a ship captain to explain Either/Or.

3. What does the author assert is the mystic's error?

4. What are the advantages of the ethical theory of talent as opposed to the aesthetic theory of talent?

5. How does the author define philosophy and what does he appreciate about it?

6. What does the author say is more important than choosing the right thing?

7. Why does the author write humans fear death?

8. What advice does the author give the young man about despair?

9. What risk does the author say one runs when one despairs about something in particular?

10. Describe the folktale about Roland's three squires.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the importance of superstition in EITHER/OR. What is the author's attitude toward superstition? What are the dangers of superstition? What course does the author recommend to the young man to counter these? Discuss citing specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the impact of "the congregation" on the author's thinking in EITHER/OR. Who is "the congregation"? What is the influence of "the congregation"? What emotional responses does the author say "the congregation" elicits? Discuss citing specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

The author discusses depression at length in EITHER/OR. Why does the author assert men become depressed? When is depression virtuous and when is it self-indulgent? What does the author assert is the nature of his own depression? What does the author assert is the nature of the young man's depression? How does the author advise the young man to handle his melancholy. Discuss citing specific examples from the text.

(see the answer keys)

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