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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 claim a sadness that enters into the body is in actuality?
(a) Inspiration.
(b) A fear.
(c) An unknown.
(d) A realization.

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

3. What does Rilke say is "the most difficult of all our tasks"?
(a) To love another person.
(b) To uncover the true self.
(c) To know God.
(d) To truly embrace solitude.

4. From where is Rilke's sixth letter written?
(a) Florence, Italy.
(b) Bremen, Germany.
(c) Rome, Italy.
(d) Paris, France.

5. At the close of the sixth letter, what does Rilke advise the young poet to do in regards to the coming holiday?
(a) Celebrate by committing to the idea that acts of love and joy are preparing the way for God.
(b) Celebrate in solitude and gratitude.
(c) Celebrate by writing.
(d) Celebrate with others.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What does Rilke advise the young poet to do if he cannot connect with people?

3. In whose handwriting does the poem Rilke enclosed with his seventh letter appear?

4. In what manner does Rilke say one must be when one is sad?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. In letter seven, Rilke compares an ideal romantic relationship to "two solitudes [that] protect and border and salute each other." What does he mean by this?

2. What does Rilke say about fear?

3. 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?

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

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

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

7. Rilke comments on the young poet's profession and compares the young poet's profession to other professions. What is Rilke's general idea about professions?

8. What is Rilke's definition of love?

9. 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?

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

(see the answer keys)

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