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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. Who is praised for his virtue and dedication to studies in Letter II?

2. How did Seneca's ancestors treat their slaves?

3. According to Seneca, what is man's only pride?

4. What is an example of unrehearsed communication?

5. What does Seneca say about the Stoic troubled by no external concerns?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does Seneca say about developing friendships?

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

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

5. According to Seneca, from where where does one's soul originate?

6. Discuss the necessity of and the problem with diversions, according to Seneca.

7. 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?

8. According to Seneca, who should think about death and why?

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

10. When does Seneca say a master should correct his slaves? How should slaves be corrected and why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the ways Seneca treated or dealt with his asthma.

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

Compare and contrast the lives and deaths of Socrates and Seneca.

(see the answer keys)

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