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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Rilke challenges the young poet to ask himself a question regarding his writing. What is that question?
(a) "Is my writing genuine?"
(b) "Is my writing truly reflective of myself?"
(c) "Must all of these words be part of the work?"
(d) "Must I write?"

2. How long ago has Rilke departed from the city he has left before arriving at the place where he composes the fourth letter?
(a) Two weeks.
(b) Two days.
(c) 10 days.
(d) A month.

3. In letter three, what does Rilke claim to be the most important element of becoming an artist?
(a) Love.
(b) Patience.
(c) Creativity.
(d) Open-mindedness.

4. What does Rilke view as a challenge of the young poet's new profession?
(a) Its lack of free time.
(b) Its rigorous hours.
(c) Its lack of creativity.
(d) Its adherence to convention.

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

6. What city has Rilke departed from to come to the place where he composes the fourth letter?
(a) Paris, France.
(b) Viareggio, near Pisa, Italy.
(c) Berlin, Germany.
(d) Worpswede, near Bremen, Germany.

7. Where is Rilke when he writes the third letter?
(a) Berlin, Germany.
(b) Florence, Italy.
(c) Rome, Italy.
(d) Viareggio, near Pisa, Italy.

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

9. In the first letter, what does Rilke cite as the most disruptive hindrance to the young poet's progress?
(a) Drinking.
(b) Romantic entanglements.
(c) Non-artistic work.
(d) Looking for others to answer the poet's own personal questions.

10. How old is the young poet when he begins corresponding with Rilke?
(a) 12.
(b) 25.
(c) 19.
(d) 28.

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

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

13. What does Rilke advise the young poet to seek in regard to his sexuality?
(a) A sexuality that is based on creativity.
(b) A sexuality that is moderate.
(c) A sexuality that is passionate and fierce.
(d) A sexuality that is the young poet's own, individualized sexuality.

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

15. What writer and personal acquaintance does Rilke discuss in letter three?
(a) Richard Dehmel.
(b) Richard Strauss.
(c) Professor Horacek.
(d) Thomas Hardy.

Short Answer Questions

1. What has brought Rilke to the place from where he writes the second letter?

2. Near the close of the fourth letter, Rilke mentions the positive aspects of the young poet's new profession. What are those positive aspects?

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

4. In what season does Rilke write the second letter?

5. In the first letter, which of the young poet's pieces does Rilke say demonstrates the most talent?

(see the answer keys)

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