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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) "Must all of these words be part of the work?"
(c) "Is my writing truly reflective of myself?"
(d) "Must I write?"

2. What acquaintance do Rilke and the young poet have in common?
(a) Professor Horacek.
(b) A distant cousin.
(c) Professor Kruppa.
(d) James Joyce.

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

4. 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 the young poet's own, individualized sexuality.
(c) A sexuality that is moderate.
(d) A sexuality that is passionate and fierce.

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

6. What works by the writer who Rilke revers most does Rilke always have accessible to him?
(a) Six Stories and Niels Lyhne.
(b) An Endless Summer and Tomorrow.
(c) Jude the Obscure and Tess of the D'Urbervilles.
(d) Winter's Best and On the Way.

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

8. In letter three, how many books does Rilke say he has published?
(a) 20 or 21.
(b) 12 or 13.
(c) 18.
(d) 25 or 26.

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

10. Where is the young poet who is the recipient of the letters studying when he begins to receive correspondence from Rilke?
(a) A military academy in Paris.
(b) A military academy in Prague.
(c) A military acdemy in Oslo.
(d) A military academy in Germany.

11. What is Rilke's salutation at the end of the first letter?
(a) "Yours faithfully."
(b) "Warmest regards."
(c) "Yours faithfully and with all sympathy."
(d) "With gratitude and happiness."

12. 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 first publication.
(b) His decision to become a sculptor.
(c) The works of William Shakespeare.
(d) The works of Jens Peter Jacobsen.

13. What does Rilke ask the young poet to do for him at the end of the first letter?
(a) Visit his mother.
(b) Distribute Rilke's books to the young poet's friends.
(c) Tell Professor Horacek of Rilke's esteem for him.
(d) Write a letter to the young poet's school informing the school of Rilke's success.

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

15. In what year does Rilke write the fourth letter?
(a) 1903.
(b) 1912.
(c) 1908.
(d) 1905.

Short Answer Questions

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

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

3. On what holiday does the young poet write his third letter to Rilke?

4. What does Rilke advise the young poet to take comfort in if he feels uneasy in his new profession?

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

(see the answer keys)

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