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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What holiday is Rilke marking with his sixth letter?
(a) Christmas.
(b) All Saints Day.
(c) Easter.
(d) The New Year.

2. To what does Rilke compare "dangerous" sadness?
(a) Drunkeness.
(b) Egoism.
(c) Pride.
(d) Sicknesses.

3. What does Rilke say about "the dragons of our lives"?
(a) That they may in fact be princesses.
(b) That they are necessary to make us strong.
(c) That they can be slain.
(d) That they should be cast out of our lives.

4. Rilke compares the existence of each individual to a room. What portion of that room do most people experience?
(a) The entire room.
(b) The doorway.
(c) The floor.
(d) A single aspect of that room, such as a corner or a window.

5. What is the young poet's military rank?
(a) Officer.
(b) General.
(c) Doctor.
(d) Soldier.

6. In what manner does Rilke say people should approach love?
(a) As apprentices.
(b) As teachers.
(c) As children.
(d) As students.

7. To what does Rilke compare people who are preparing for God?
(a) Bees.
(b) Fools.
(c) Poems.
(d) Roses.

8. What does the sixth letter reveal about the state of the young poet?
(a) The young poet is suffering from writer's block.
(b) The young poet is sad and lonely.
(c) The young poet is enjoying his new career.
(d) The young poet is relishing his solitude.

9. What does the poem enclosed in the seventh letter express a longing for?
(a) Faith.
(b) Love.
(c) Trust.
(d) Creative talent.

10. Rilke says that in certain places, the emergence of women is already taking place. Where is this?
(a) The eastern countries.
(b) The western countries.
(c) The northern countries.
(d) The southern countries.

11. To what does Rilke compare the realization about the true nature of human existence in letter eight?
(a) A person placed in the presence of God.
(b) A person is suddenly taken from his house and placed on top of a mountain.
(c) A person transported from one country to another.
(d) A single person left after a war.

12. What does Rilke claim a sadness indicates about a person's life or self?
(a) A fear.
(b) A realization.
(c) A transition.
(d) A loss.

13. In what manner does Rilke say one must be when one is sad?
(a) Angry and vocal.
(b) Lonely and attentive.
(c) Solitary and depressed.
(d) Dutiful and silent.

14. What does Rilke say is "the only courage demanded of us"?
(a) The courage o be solitary.
(b) The courage to love.
(c) The courage to be prepared for the unknown or unexpected.
(d) The courage to create.

15. Who does Rilke say in the seventh letter cannot understand love?
(a) Anyone who is not an artist.
(b) Military officers.
(c) Children.
(d) Young people.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Rilke advise the young poet to do if he cannot connect with people?

2. In letter five, what statue does Rilke mention is near his place of residence?

3. At the close of letter seven, what love does Rilke tell the young poet to remember?

4. From where is Rilke writing the eighth letter?

5. What does Rilke say is wrong with men?

(see the answer keys)

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