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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. According to Seneca, if one begins taking lessons other than philosophy, what happens?

2. Who is chastised in Letter III for not discussing his personal matters?

3. Who spends hours quibbling over meaningless logical puzzles, according to Seneca?

4. What is there little value in if one cannot share it with friends, according to Seneca?

5. According to Seneca, what creates anxiety?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is a "quibbler" and what advice does Seneca offer to Lucilius about quibblers?

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

3. What is the difference between a Stoic and anyone else in regards to emotions?

4. 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?

5. What is the difference between physical and spiritual ailments, according the Seneca's seasick boat trip example?

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

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

8. What is Seneca's theory on slavery?

9. Explain the importance to occasional fasting according to Seneca.

10. Why does Lucilius call Seneca a hypocrite in Letter VIII?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the festival Saturnalia. When was it held, what did it celebrate, etc? What is its relationship to a particular Christian holiday?

Essay Topic 2

Who was Posidonius? Discuss the issue Seneca had with one of his claims and talk about the many roles of Posidonius.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Seneca's views on the importance of speech pace.

(see the answer keys)

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