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

2. What does Rilke say in the seventh letter about things that are difficult?
(a) Things that are difficult should be avoided.
(b) Things that are difficult enhance our discipline.
(c) Things that are difficult are usually not the things that are best for us.
(d) Things that are difficult are worth doing or experiencing.

3. What does Rilke advise the young poet to do if he cannot connect with people?
(a) Read more books.
(b) Develop his sense of empathy.
(c) Learn an instrument.
(d) Identify with nature, animals, and children.

4. What does Rilke encourage the young poet to believe about God?
(a) That he is in art.
(b) That he has not yet come.
(c) That he is everywhere.
(d) That he does not exist.

5. What does Rilke say humans have grown away from because of their lack of courage?
(a) Nature.
(b) The spiritual aspects of existence.
(c) The creative self.
(d) Art.

Short Answer Questions

1. In what manner does Rilke say people should approach love?

2. Why has it taken so long for Rilke to reply to the young poet with his seventh letter?

3. What aspect of human life does Rilke say is most burdened with conventions?

4. What type of sadness does Rilke call "dangerous"?

5. To what does Rilke compare humans' misunderstanding of destiny in letter eight?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is Rilke's definition of love?

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

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

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

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

8. What is Rilke's view of God?

9. 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"?

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 816 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample