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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. At the end of letter eight, what does Rilke remind the young poet of?

2. What does Rilke assert about the nature of human existence that he claims is a fact whether we think so or not?

3. What does the poem enclosed in the seventh letter express a longing for?

4. What does Rilke say is wrong with the way most people approach love?

5. Rilke says that eventually women no longer are the opposite of men, but something else. What are they?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Rilke mean when he says that humans have no choice in deciding to be solitary?

2. What does Rilke say that the average person will continue to do in regards to love?

3. Rilke implies that security and comfort are negative. Why?

4. 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"?

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

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

7. What does Rilke say about the amount of beauty in Rome?

8. What does Rilke say about fear?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Compile, analyze, and explain a unified artistic theory according to Rilke.

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