1. Besides works by that writer, what other book does Rilke always have accessible to him?
(a) The Origin of Species.
(b) The Torah.
(c) A volume of Shakespearian sonnets.
(d) The Bible.

2. What does the young poet write about in his third letter to Rilke that Rilke mentions in his letter back to the young poet?
(a) His decision to become a sculptor.
(b) His first publication.
(c) The works of Jens Peter Jacobsen.
(d) The works of William Shakespeare.

3. What has brought Rilke to the place from where he writes the second letter?
(a) Rilke has moved there because the community is very supportive of his writing.
(b) Rilke has moved there to work on his writing.
(c) Rilke has moved there to get well.
(d) Rilke has moved there to be close to his family.

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

5. Which letter from the young poet is Rilke responding to with his fourth letter?
(a) The young poet's letter of Easter, 1903.
(b) The young poet's letter of Easter, 1907.
(c) The young poet's letter of May 2, 1908.
(d) The young poet's letter of May 2, 1903.

Short Answer Questions

1. Rilke indicates that in the future, men and women will approach each other differently than they do at the time of his writing. How will they approach each other?

2. How long ago has Rilke departed from the city he has left before arriving at the place where he composes the fourth letter?

3. In the third letter, Rilke requests that the young poet avoid something. What is it that he asks the poet to avoid?

4. What does Rilke say is bad about physical pleasure?

5. How does Rilke say that humans should approach physical pleasure?

(see the answer key)

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