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

2. In what year does Rilke write the fifth letter?
(a) 1908.
(b) 1903.
(c) 1912.
(d) 1904.

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

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

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

Short Answer Questions

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

2. At the close of the sixth letter, what does Rilke advise the young poet to do in regards to the coming holiday?

3. What does Rilke say about careers in the sixth letter?

4. In what season is Rilke writing the seventh letter?

5. Why does Rilke believe that Rome makes one sad for the first few days of visiting it?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What advice does Rilke give the young poet for doctoring his sadness?

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

5. 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"?

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

7. What can be inferred about the young poet's feelings toward his own solitude from Rilke's seventh letter?

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

9. 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?

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

(see the answer keys)

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