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 Rilke say one can know if a poem is good?
(a) If it is inspired by necessity.
(b) If it reflects human nature.
(c) If it helps readers understand life.
(d) If it moves its readers.

2. What acquaintance do Rilke and the young poet have in common?
(a) Professor Kruppa.
(b) A distant cousin.
(c) Professor Horacek.
(d) James Joyce.

3. What is Rilke's primary criticism of the young poet's writing in the first letter?
(a) It has no individual style.
(b) It does not rhyme.
(c) It lacks creativity.
(d) It is shallow.

4. From where is the first letter from Rilke to the young poet postmarked?
(a) Berlin.
(b) Prague.
(c) Munich.
(d) Paris.

5. 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?
(a) Human suffering.
(b) Human communication.
(c) Human frailty.
(d) Works of art.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rilke advise the poet to do in regard to his efforts to get published?

2. In the first letter, Rilke says he cannot offer critical commentary on the young poet's work. Why?

3. What does Rilke thank the young poet for at the end of the first letter?

4. In the first letter, what does Rilke advise the poet to do to improve his writing?

5. During what decade does the correspondence contained in this volume take place?

(see the answer key)

This section contains 337 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample