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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Rilke send to the young poet in reply to the poet's first letter?
(a) A volume of Rilke's poetry.
(b) A list of potential publishers.
(c) A letter and the poet's poems.
(d) Money.

2. How does the young poet describe the writer and personal acquaintance Rilke mentions?
(a) "Living and writing among the living."
(b) "Living and writing with true passion."
(c) "Living and writing with blood."
(d) "Living and writing in heat."

3. Who does Rilke tell the young poet to be considerate of because of their fear of solitude?
(a) Parents.
(b) The elderly.
(c) Artists who have not yet found their way.
(d) Children.

4. What does Rilke thank the young poet for at the end of the first letter?
(a) The young poet's effort.
(b) The young poet's talent.
(c) The young poet's admiration.
(d) The young poet's confidence.

5. What does Rilke advise the young poet to seek in regard to his sexuality?
(a) A sexuality that is moderate.
(b) A sexuality that is based on creativity.
(c) A sexuality that is passionate and fierce.
(d) A sexuality that is the young poet's own, individualized sexuality.

Short Answer Questions

1. In the second letter, who does Rilke cite as his artistic influences?

2. Rilke says that there is only one thing that "can grasp and hold and be just toward" art. What is that thing?

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

4. What does Rilke call himself in relation to the young poet at the end of the first letter?

5. What is Rilke's primary criticism of the young poet's writing in the first letter?

Short Essay Questions

1. In letter four, Rilke says that "everything that may some day be possible to many the solitary man can now prepare and build with his hands, that err less." What does this mean?

2. What do letters two and three suggest about the young poet's interest in Rilke's advice?

3. Rilke tells the young poet in the first letter that the only way for the poet to improve his writing is to "go into yourself". What does this mean?

4. Rilke places emphasis on the importance of solitude. Why is solitude so important?

5. At the end of letter four, Rilke mentions the young poet's new profession. What is this profession?

6. In letter four, Rilke says that "even the best err in words when they are meant to mean most delicate and almost inexpressible things." What does this mean?

7. What does Rilke say about the reading and re-reading of works by Jens Peter Jacobsen?

8. What does Rilke mean when he tells the young poet in the first letter that the poet's work has "no individual style"?

9. What does Rilke mean when, in letter four, he says that the intellect "lags marveling behind" the consciousness?

10. What reason does Rilke give for advising the young poet against writing love poems?

(see the answer keys)

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