View a FREE sample

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

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. What does Rilke say is wrong with men?
(a) Men undervalue what they love.
(b) Men oppress women.
(c) Men are too dominant.
(d) Men are too focused on the physical.

3. To what does Rilke compare humans' misunderstanding of destiny in letter eight?
(a) Humans' misunderstanding of human nature.
(b) Humans' previous misunderstanding of the motion of the sun.
(c) Humans' misunderstanding of God.
(d) Humans' misunderstanding of love.

4. 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.

5. 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 should look to their own troubles.
(b) People who give the young poet advice have had troubled times in their lives, as well.
(c) The young poet should be skeptical of people who give him advice.
(d) The young poet should avoid people who give him advice.

Short Answer Questions

1. To what does Rilke compare people who are preparing for God?

2. In what year is Rilke writing the eighth letter?

3. At the end of letter eight, what does Rilke remind the young poet of?

4. How long has Rilke been in the city from which he writes the fifth letter?

5. At the close of the sixth letter, how does Rilke tell the young poet to be?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Rilke advise the young poet "to be lonely and attentive when one is sad" in letter eight?

2. What does Rilke mean when he says that humans have no choice in deciding to be solitary?

3. What does Rilke mean when, in letter seven, he says that in the future, femininity will not be "merely an opposite of the masculine, but. something in itself"?

4. In letter six, Rilke encourages the young poet to maintain what he calls "a child's wise incomprehension" rather than joining in the "defensiveness and disdain" that are shared by the masses. What does he mean by this?

5. Rilke implies that security and comfort are negative. Why?

6. Why does Rilke believe that women are responsible for a future change in humans' approach to romantic love?

7. What does Rilke say that the average person will continue to do in regards to love?

8. What is Rilke's definition of love?

9. Rilke indicates that humans have distanced themselves from the spiritual realm, from God, and from each other. How has this distancing occurred?

10. How does Rilke respond to the young poet's expression of fear that the young poet has lost God?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,001 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample