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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. From where is the first letter from Rilke to the young poet postmarked?

2. In the first letter, which of the young poet's pieces does Rilke say demonstrates the most talent?

3. What is Rilke's salutation at the end of the first letter?

4. What does Rilke tell the young poet about irony?

5. Rilke challenges the young poet to ask himself a question regarding his writing. What is that question?

Short Essay Questions

1. What type of writing does Rilke advocate for?

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

3. What can be inferred about Rilke's health from letters two and three?

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

5. Rilke says that artists remains unaware of their best qualities. Why is this?

6. What does Rilke imply about irony?

7. Rilke places emphasis on the importance of solitude. Why is solitude so important?

8. 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..."?

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

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In letter eight, Rilke compares the sense of security to which individuals cling to the horrors that exist in the homes of the characters of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. Analyze one of Poe's stories or longer poems using the life philosophies of Rilke as a lens through which to view the horrors of Poe's work as personal delusions and securities.

Essay Topic 2

Based on the content of the letters, develop an argument about what Rilke believed the role of the artist in society is.

Essay Topic 3

Explain and analyze Rilke's views on careerism. How could the time in which Rilke lived have affected his views on careerism?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample