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

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

3. Why has it taken so long for Rilke to reply to the young poet with his seventh letter?
(a) Rilke had left the letter in a different city.
(b) Rilke had forgotten about the letter.
(c) Rilke had been traveling.
(d) Rilke had been ill.

4. What does Rilke say about careers in the sixth letter?
(a) They show individuals their true selves.
(b) They provide inspiration for poetry.
(c) They distance the individual from his or her true self.
(d) They help to discipline the individual.

5. What aspect of human life does Rilke say is most burdened with conventions?
(a) Love.
(b) Inspiration.
(c) Religion.
(d) Marriage.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what year does Rilke write the fifth letter?

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

3. What does Rilke tell the young poet to ask himself regarding his religious beliefs?

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

5. Rilke tells the young poet that in regard to his sickness, he is a sick man, a convalescent, and what else?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rilke say about fear?

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

3. What does Rilke mean when he says that the names of things are often misrepresented of what things are?

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

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

6. Rilke says that young people can't understand love. What reason does he give?

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

8. 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"?

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

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

(see the answer keys)

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