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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Rilke when he writes the second letter?

2. From where does Rilke instruct the young poet to derive inspiration?

3. What does Rilke suggest that all humans share in, both women and men?

4. In the first letter, Rilke says he cannot offer critical commentary on the young poet's work. Why?

5. In letter three, what does Rilke claim to be the most important element of becoming an artist?

Short Essay Questions

1. What can the reader infer about the content of the first letter the young poet wrote to Rilke from reading Rilke's response?

2. What does Rilke mean when he says in letter three that sex "is not sufficiently human, [but] is only male"?

3. What does Rilke imply about irony?

4. What does Rilke mean when, in the first letter, he suggests that critical commentary on art results in "happy misunderstandings"?

5. How does Rilke advise the young poet to approach works of art?

6. In letter four, Rilke says that "everything that may some day be possible to many the solitary man can now prepare and build with his hands, that err less." What does this mean?

7. Rilke places considerable emphasis on the necessary nature of art. What does he mean when he says that a poet is only a poet if he would die if he didn't write?

8. What does Rilke mean when he tells the young poet in the first letter that the poet's work has "no individual style"?

9. What does Rilke mean when, in letter four, he says that man "might be more reverent toward his fruitfulness, which is but one, whether it seems mental or physical..."?

10. What are Rilke's views on aesthetic criticism?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the apparent contradiction between Rilke's separate emphases on solitude and meaningful sexual union with other human beings.

Essay Topic 2

How is Rilke's advice to the young poet applicable for 21st century writers? How is his advice not applicable for 21st century writers?

Essay Topic 3

In the first letter, Rilke suggests that the critical assessment of literary works is not a valuable practice. Do you agree with Rilke's statement? Why or why not? Do you think literary works should not be critically assessed?

(see the answer keys)

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