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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 an oxymoron?

2. According to Seneca, who doesn't care if he is rich or poor?

3. Seneca says though one may suffer more or less in life, the suffering is surrounded by what on either side?

4. What holiday is celebrated at the time Letter XVII is written?

5. Why, according to Seneca, shouldn't old age frighten a wise man?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Seneca explain how he partakes of the festivities of Saturnalia?

2. According to Seneca, how much concern should a wise man have regarding his or others' physical beauty?

3. In Letter II, how does Seneca advise Lucilius to proceed with his study of philosophy?

4. What is a sedan chair and why does Seneca use one occasionally?

5. As Seneca comforts Lucilius at the loss of his friend, he says grief has a purpose. What is that purpose and how should a wise Stoic man deal with the death of a friend?

6. What are Seneca's thoughts on fear and how to eliminate it from life?

7. What does Seneca say about the study of philosophy?

8. What does Seneca tell Lucilius about the pace of speech?

9. Why didn't the Stoics write a lot of quotable quotes for students to memorize? What is his opinion about quotable quotes?

10. What is the goal of philosophy, as stated by Seneca?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Zeno's life and his importance to Stoicism.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Seneca's retirement from Nero's court and his quest for apatheia.

Essay Topic 3

What is the Greek "golden mean" and how does it apply to Stoicism?

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This section contains 803 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample