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This quiz consists of 5 multiple choice and 5 short answer questions through Section 7.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. How does the young poet describe the writer and personal acquaintance Rilke mentions?
(a) "Living and writing among the living."
(b) "Living and writing with blood."
(c) "Living and writing in heat."
(d) "Living and writing with true passion."

3. In what year is Rilke's sixth letter written?
(a) 1908.
(b) 1912.
(c) 1904.
(d) 1903.

4. How does Rilke suggest one knows if one should not be a poet?
(a) If one does not like to read others' poetry.
(b) If one can live without writing.
(c) If one cannot get published after 100 tries.
(d) If one is bored by one's own writing.

5. Why does it take Rilke so long to respond to the young poet's second letter?
(a) Rilke has been ill.
(b) Rilke has left it in another city.
(c) Rilke has lost the letter.
(d) Rilke has been busy writing.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rilke assert about the nature of human existence that he claims is a fact whether we think so or not?

2. Rilke says that eventually women no longer are the opposite of men, but something else. What are they?

3. What type of sadness does Rilke call "dangerous"?

4. Why has it taken so long for Rilke to reply to the young poet with his seventh letter?

5. What city has Rilke departed from to come to the place where he composes the fourth letter?

(see the answer key)

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