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

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who resists the future change in women that Rilke notes in letter seven?
(a) Philosophers.
(b) Men.
(c) The Church.
(d) Militaries.

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

3. In letter five, to where does Rilke say he is preparing to move?
(a) A beach house on the southern coast.
(b) A hotel.
(c) The city center.
(d) A summer house in a rural area away from the city.

4. From where is Rilke writing the eighth letter?
(a) Paris, France.
(b) Jonsered, Sweden.
(c) Rome, Italy.
(d) Fladie, Sweden.

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

6. How does Rilke say the young poet's career compares to other careers?
(a) Rilke says that the young poet's career is better than other careers because it allows more solitude.
(b) Rilke says that the young poet's career is essentially the same as all other careers.
(c) Rilke says that the young poet's career has more conventions than other careers.
(d) Rilke says the young poet's career is more distinguished than other careers.

7. In the fifth letter, Rilke tells the young poet that a package the young poet has sent to him has not arrived. What is in the package?
(a) A special German cheese.
(b) A book that presents works by the young poet.
(c) A collection of books by Rilke.
(d) The young poet's latest manuscript.

8. At the end of letter eight, what does Rilke remind the young poet of?
(a) How he once longed to emerge from his youth and realize himself.
(b) His fear of judgment.
(c) His parents' love.
(d) His first poems.

9. In letter eight, what does Rilke tell the young poet he must be careful with?
(a) Prayers.
(b) Names.
(c) Thoughts.
(d) Sadnesses.

10. What famous author does Rilke reference in letter eight?
(a) Edgar Allan Poe.
(b) William Shakespeare.
(c) Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
(d) Nathaniel Hawthorne.

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

12. At the close of letter eight, what does Rilke tell the poet about people who give him advice?
(a) People who give the young poet advice have had troubled times in their lives, as well.
(b) The young poet should be skeptical of people who give him advice.
(c) People who give the young poet advice should look to their own troubles.
(d) The young poet should avoid people who give him advice.

13. Why does Rilke delay so long in replying to the young poet's fifth letter?
(a) Rilke does not like to write letters when he is traveling.
(b) The young poet's fifth letter has angered Rilke.
(c) Rilke has been ill.
(d) Rilke leaves the young poet's letter in another city.

14. From where is the seventh letter written?
(a) Bremen, Germany.
(b) Paris, France.
(c) Athens, Greece.
(d) Rome, Italy.

15. According to Rilke in letter eight, where does destiny originate?
(a) With thought.
(b) From external events.
(c) With God.
(d) From within individuals.

Short Answer Questions

1. In letter eight, what does Rilke say the young poet "overvalues"?

2. What does Rilke say is "the most difficult of all our tasks"?

3. What does Rilke encourage the young poet to believe about God?

4. In what year is Rilke's sixth letter written?

5. What does Rilke say is "the only courage demanded of us"?

(see the answer keys)

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