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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 whom does Rilke advise the young poet to avoid seeking advice?
3. What acquaintance do Rilke and the young poet have in common?
4. Why has Rilke come to the place where he composes the fourth letter?
5. From where is the first letter from Rilke to the young poet postmarked?
Short Essay Questions
1. What reason does Rilke give for advising the young poet against writing love poems?
2. 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?
3. 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..."?
4. What does Rilke mean when, in letter four, he says that physical pleasure is not bad, but that physical pleasure is often "misuse[d] and squander[ed]"?
5. What does Rilke mean when, in letter four, he says that the intellect "lags marveling behind" the consciousness?
6. What does Rilke mean when, in the first letter, he suggests that critical commentary on art results in "happy misunderstandings"?
7. What do letters two and three suggest about the young poet's interest in Rilke's advice?
8. Rilke says that artists remains unaware of their best qualities. Why is this?
9. What does Rilke mean when he says in letter three that sex "is not sufficiently human, [but] is only male"?
10. Rilke tells the young poet in the first letter that the only way for the poet to improve his writing is to "go into yourself". What does this mean?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
In what ways can Rilke's tenth letter be viewed as a sendoff of sorts to the young poet?
Essay Topic 2
In the first letter, Rilke tells the young poet that "a work of art is good if it has sprung from necessity." From this statement, discuss what Rilke's philosophy of art is, and comment on that philosophy.
Essay Topic 3
Throughout the letters, and especially in letter eight, Rilke suggests that people are not truly living their lives--that their experiences are dulled from familiarity and security. What type of living is Rilke advocating? What is this type of living like?
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This section contains 864 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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