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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Rilke says that there is only one thing that "can grasp and hold and be just toward" art. What is that thing?
(a) Hope.
(b) Open-mindedness.
(c) Love.
(d) Creativity.

2. During what decade does the correspondence contained in this volume take place?
(a) 1890s.
(b) 1920s.
(c) 1900s.
(d) 1910s.

3. Where is Rilke when he writes the second letter?
(a) Athens, Greece.
(b) Berlin, Germany.
(c) Florence, Italy.
(d) Viareggio, near Pisa, Italy.

4. What novel does Rilke discuss in letter three?
(a) Niels Lyhne.
(b) Jude the Obscure.
(c) Across the World.
(d) Pifer.

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

6. In what year is the first letter from Rilke to the young poet written?
(a) 1909.
(b) 1910.
(c) 1903.
(d) 1902.

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

8. What does Rilke say about Professor Horacek in his first letter?
(a) That the professor is a great poet.
(b) That the professor is a great scholar.
(c) That the professor helps to nurse Rilke back to health as a boy.
(d) That he holds admiration and gratitude for the professor.

9. What does Rilke advise the young poet to buy in letter three?
(a) A collection of the complete works of Homer.
(b) A collection of the complete works of Sophocles.
(c) A collection of the complete works of William Shakespeare.
(d) A collection of the complete works of Jens Peter Jacobsen.

10. In what season does Rilke write the second letter?
(a) Spring.
(b) Fall.
(c) Winter.
(d) Summer.

11. What does Rilke say is bad about physical pleasure?
(a) Its ability to bring happiness.
(b) Its temptation.
(c) Its ability to keep artists away from their work.
(d) Humans' misuse and waste of it.

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

13. In the first letter the young poet sent to Rilke along with his poems, what does he ask of Rilke?
(a) If Rilke can come visit him.
(b) If Rilke can send the poet a poem Rilke has written.
(c) If his poems are good.
(d) If Rilke can help the poet get published.

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. In what year does Rilke write the third letter?

2. In the fourth letter, what does Rilke say he wishes human beings are more reverent toward?

3. What is Rilke's salutation at the end of the first letter?

4. What does Rilke believe is wrong with sex?

5. From where does Rilke write the fourth letter?

(see the answer keys)

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