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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. How does Hilde feel about Sophie?

2. What does Kant concern himself with?

3. On June 14th, what does Hermes say?

4. What upsets Sophie after she hears the lesson on Berkeley?

5. According to Hegel, how does constant change come about?

Short Essay Questions

1. Kierkegaard coined the slogan, "Question Authority." Write about two instances where you have seen this slogan used in our culture.

2. Why does Sophie become shocked when she sees "Sophie's World" on a bookshelf?

3. Was it odd when Sophie met Alice in Wonderland and Winnie the Pooh? Why or why not?

4. What is the author's tone toward Sophie and her mother in the Berkley chapter? Why?

5. Sartre believes that freedom is a sort of curse, because freedom forces Man to make choices without guidelines. Is this applicable to Sophie's life? How?

6. Why is it ironic that Sophie thinks Berkeley's theory is stupid?

7. What is the importance of the party becoming the theater of the absurd?

8. Kant looked at the individual's perception as most important. How is this theory applicable to Sophie?

9. The ideal of the romantics is for complete originality. Does our culture still value that ideal today? How?

10. Were you confused by Darwin's theory at all? Explain how you were or weren't.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Evaluate all of the narrators. Which narrator do you prefer? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Why does Alberto teach Sophie these philosophy lessons? Was it for personal gain or as a selfless act?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the chapter titles. The first title is "The Garden of Eden." Why would Gaarder begin his novel this way? Some of the titles are simplistic, such as the names of philosophers. Others have more meaning. Analyze these titles and relate them to the deeper meaning presented in the corresponding chapter.

(see the answer keys)

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