View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who says in Chapter XVII that wise men should avoid the festival that is being celebrated?

2. Who does Seneca thank for sending him a book?

3. Who says that excessive anger is a threat to one's sanity?

4. Who says that hope is the cause of fear?

5. Seneca says that a philosopher must distinguish himself from others with virtue, but what must the philosopher obey when doing so?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Seneca's opinion of Vatia? How does it differ from public opinion?

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

3. What does Seneca say about developing friendships?

4. What does Seneca say the unphilosophical life lacks and what does it have? Why is the life of a philosopher better?

5. According to Seneca, how should a wise man deal with grief itself?

6. What does Seneca confide to Lucilius about his own vices?

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

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

9. What happened when Seneca went out on the town in search of "witty entertainment" and how was he affected by the situation?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the theories of Stoicism with those of philosopher Epicurus.

Essay Topic 3

Define and discuss "apatheia."

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 734 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample