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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Rilke say the young poet should do if he determines he should not be a poet?
(a) He should quit writing completely.
(b) He should pursue the musical arts.
(c) He should pursue the visual arts.
(d) He should join the military.

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

3. What does Rilke say about everything that is serious?
(a) "Everything serious can be solved through love."
(b) "Everything serious can be found in art."
(c) "Everything serious is actually simple."
(d) "Everything serious is difficult."

4. What does the young poet request in his third letter to Rilke?
(a) Suggestions for further reading.
(b) Copies of Rilke's books.
(c) Advice on writing sonnets.
(d) A list of publishers to whom the poet can send his work.

5. 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 the writer of the Psalms.
(c) Shakespeare and Beethoven.
(d) Jens Peter Jacobsen and Auguste Rodin.

6. In the third letter, what does Rilke say he wishes he could do for the young poet but is unable to do?
(a) Visit the young poet.
(b) Publish the poet's work.
(c) Give the poet some of his own books.
(d) Present the poet's work to Rilke's publishers.

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

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

9. Why has Rilke come to the place where he composes the fourth letter?
(a) To improve his health.
(b) To meet with his publisher.
(c) To write in solitude.
(d) To visit his family.

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

11. What does Rilke tell the young poet to rejoice in?
(a) The young poet's writing.
(b) The young poet's growth.
(c) The young poet's work.
(d) The young poet's parents.

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

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

15. What type of poetry does Rilke advise the poet not to write?
(a) Love poems and other common forms.
(b) Epics.
(c) Narrative poems.
(d) Lyric poems.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what year is Rilke's second letter composed?

2. Rilke writes that "most events are inexpressible," and says that one category of things is more inexpressible than all the rest. What is this category?

3. Who does Rilke tell the young poet to be considerate of because of their fear of solitude?

4. What writer and personal acquaintance does Rilke discuss in letter three?

5. Where is the young poet who is the recipient of the letters studying when he begins to receive correspondence from Rilke?

(see the answer keys)

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