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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. To what do doubt and despair belong according to the author?

3. According to the author, what is love itself?

4. What does the author call the young man's intellectual capacities?

5. What does the author say are the spheres proper to thought?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What does the author say is the proper attitude for a married man in a time of material need?

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

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

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

7. What does the author say to despotic husbands who utterly dominate their wives?

8. What does the author write about "the Moment"?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Much of EITHER/OR takes the form of a letter written from an older man to a younger man. How does Kierkegaard use this format to accomplish his goals with the book? How might the message of the book feel different if it took another form? Discuss citing specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 2

How does the author define the nature of philosophy and its purpose? What does the author assert are the dangers of philosophy? Write an essay defending or refuting the author's attitude toward philosophy's role in human life. Cite specific examples from the text to support your views.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 805 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample