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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. From where does Rilke write the fifth letter?
(a) Rome, Italy.
(b) Bremen, Germany.
(c) Florence, Italy.
(d) Paris, France.

2. Who writes the poem Rilke encloses with his seventh letter?
(a) Rilke.
(b) Kappus.
(c) Shakespeare.
(d) Petrarch.

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

4. What two aspects of human life does Rilke claim have no explanation?
(a) Birth and death.
(b) Forgiveness and hatred.
(c) Death and love.
(d) Love and art.

5. How long has Rilke been in the city from which he writes the fifth letter?
(a) Two months.
(b) Six weeks.
(c) Two weeks.
(d) Six days.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the primary topic of the eighth letter?

2. What does Rilke say about "the dragons of our lives"?

3. What does Rilke imply about losing God?

4. In what year is the seventh letter written?

5. What does Rilke say in the seventh letter about things that are difficult?

Short Essay Questions

1. In letter six, what does Rilke tell the young poet he should do if he is lonely?

2. In letter five, Rilke comments on Rome and says that the first few days one is in Rome have "an oppressively sad effect" because everything in Rome is old and looking backward toward the past. How does this sentiment reflect Rilke's life philosophies as he has expressed them thus far in the book?

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

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

5. Why does Rilke send a copy of the young poet's sonnet with letter seven?

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

7. What can be inferred about the mental and emotional state of the young poet from Rilke's reply in letter six?

8. What is Rilke's definition of love?

9. Explain what Rilke means when in letter eight he says that sadness "are the moments when something new has entered into us".

10. 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?

(see the answer keys)

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