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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 risk in despairing over something particular according to the author?

2. What "humble view" does the author say he presents to the young man?

3. Wherein is contained the whole wisdom of life according to the author?

4. What does the author say that the young man thinks life is?

5. What does the author say is the young man's position in relation to philosophy?

Short Essay Questions

1. Briefly describe what the author means by the term Either/Or.

2. What are somethings the author writes might be said to a depressed young man?

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

4. What does the author dislike about philosophy?

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

6. What "gift of grace" does the author say he would add to those listed in the bible?

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

8. Are any Either/Or choices absolute? Explain.

9. Why does the author warn against young men being tied down to making a living right away?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both the author of the letter and the letter's recipient are men. Discuss the influence of gender in EITHER/OR. How might the letter be different if it were written by or to a woman? Why do you think both of the characters are men? Discuss citing specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

What do we come to understand about the young man to whom the letter is written? Create and defend a detailed portrait of the young man using specific clues 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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