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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. After Sophie returns home from meeting Alberto, what does she see in the mirror?

2. How does Sophie surprise Joanna after they finish classes?

3. How does Sophie's mother behave concerning Sophie's new interests?

4. Where does Sophie live?

5. In a Baroque work by Holberg, what question is posed?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does nature constrain human's free will like Spinoza believed? How?

2. What is Sophie's den symbolic of? How?

3. How are Hilde and the Major connected to Sophie, as known by Chapter 13? Why?

4. Sophie recalls that time is different for the Major and HIlde, than for Sophie and Alberto. How would this exist?

5. What would be an example of Parmenides' beliefs in Sophie's life?

6. Why does Sophie decide to go into a stranger's cabin?

7. Epicureans believe in seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. Is this a theme of the novel? Why?

8. Why would Hermes growl at Sophie when she follows him? Is this characteristic of a dog? Why?

9. Is Sophie's mother's reaction to her daughter's studies and new attitude realistic? Why?

10. Why does Sophie's mother handle her daughter's relationship with Alberto so calmly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Did Sophie succeed in her philosophy course? What was her goal or expectation as she began it? Was it possible for her to succeed?

Essay Topic 2

How does Freud's dream analysis connect to Sophie and Alberto since they are in a dream?

Essay Topic 3

What is the main theme of this novel? Consider ideas past the philosophers' theories. What message did these philosophers have for the audience?

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