View a FREE sample

This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 1.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How does Professor Horacek know Rilke?
(a) Professor Horacek knows Rilke's grandfather.
(b) Professor Horacek teaches Rilke at a military academy.
(c) Professor Horacek is Rilke's editor.
(d) Professor Horacek raises Rilke.

2. What does Rilke ask the young poet to do for him at the end of the first letter?
(a) Visit his mother.
(b) Distribute Rilke's books to the young poet's friends.
(c) Tell Professor Horacek of Rilke's esteem for him.
(d) Write a letter to the young poet's school informing the school of Rilke's success.

3. What does Rilke say the young poet should do if he determines he should not be a poet?
(a) He should quit writing completely.
(b) He should join the military.
(c) He should pursue the visual arts.
(d) He should pursue the musical arts.

4. What is Rilke's salutation at the end of the first letter?
(a) "Yours faithfully and with all sympathy."
(b) "Yours faithfully."
(c) "With gratitude and happiness."
(d) "Warmest regards."

5. In the first letter, what does Rilke advise the poet to do to improve his writing?
(a) Examine his inner self to determine what writing means to him.
(b) Emulate the best classical poets.
(c) Begin studying music.
(d) Take a poetry class with Rilke.

Short Answer Questions

1. What acquaintance do Rilke and the young poet have in common?

2. Rilke writes that "most events are inexpressible," and says that one category of things is more inexpressible than all the rest. What is this category?

3. What does Rilke say about Professor Horacek in his first letter?

4. How does Rilke say one can know if a poem is good?

5. Rilke challenges the young poet to ask himself a question regarding his writing. What is that question?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 361 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample