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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

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

3. 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?
(a) Human communication.
(b) Human frailty.
(c) Works of art.
(d) Human suffering.

4. 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.

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

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

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

8. In the fourth letter, what does Rilke instruct the young poet to do regarding the poet's unanswered questions?
(a) Love the questions.
(b) Seek answers in solitude.
(c) Seek answers from poetry.
(d) Seek answers from artists.

9. In what year does Rilke write the third letter?
(a) 1905.
(b) 1902.
(c) 1908.
(d) 1903.

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

11. What has brought Rilke to the place from where he writes the second letter?
(a) Rilke has moved there to work on his writing.
(b) Rilke has moved there because the community is very supportive of his writing.
(c) Rilke has moved there to be close to his family.
(d) Rilke has moved there to get well.

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

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

1. Where does Rilke say humans should look for lessons on how to approach sex and pleasure?

2. What does Rilke say about everything that is serious?

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

4. From whom does Rilke advise the young poet to avoid seeking advice?

5. What does Rilke thank the young poet for at the end of the first letter?

(see the answer keys)

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