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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Rilke claim a sadness indicates about a person's life or self?
(a) A transition.
(b) A fear.
(c) A realization.
(d) A loss.

2. In the second letter, who does Rilke cite as his artistic influences?
(a) The writer of the Psalms and Shakespeare.
(b) Jens Peter Jacobsen and Auguste Rodin.
(c) Jens Peter Jacobsen and the writer of the Psalms.
(d) Shakespeare and Beethoven.

3. In what year is the seventh letter written?
(a) 1912.
(b) 1904.
(c) 1903.
(d) 1908.

4. Where does Rilke say humans should look for lessons on how to approach sex and pleasure?
(a) The Bible.
(b) Artists.
(c) The work of the great poets.
(d) Plants and animals.

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. In the third letter, what does Rilke say he wishes he could do for the young poet but is unable to do?

3. Where is Rilke when he writes the second letter?

4. Who resists the future change in women that Rilke notes in letter seven?

5. What does Rilke call himself in relation to the young poet at the end of the first letter?

(see the answer key)

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