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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. What is Montaigne's general view of humanity?

2. What attitude does Seneca have toward slaves in "Slaves?"

3. How was Montaigne's first book received?

4. Where did Maria Edgeworth get her nontraditional views from?

5. At what age did Montaigne begin writing?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Samuel Johnson famous? What kind of essays did he write?

2. What is the subject of "Pleasure Boat Studio?"

3. What caused Michel de Montaigne to start writing?

4. How are the writings of Montaigne structured?

5. What philosophy of death does Plutarch advise in "Consolation to His Wife?"

6. What is "On Noise" about? What does Seneca advise?

7. To what extent were Charles Lamb's personal essays influenced by his family background? Describe that family background.

8. What subjects are talked about in "On Some Verses of Virgil?"

9. What idea sparks Montaigne to write after his first book is a success?

10. Why are Richard Steele and Joseph Addison so often presented as a literary pair, as they are in this volume?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"An Hour or Two Sacred to Sorrow" by Richard Steele and "Consolation to His Wife" by Plutarch both speak to the grieving process.

A) What is the value of sorrow to each man? Can grief be healthy, or should it simply be minimized and avoided?

B) How is knowledge of the biographical details important in appreciating "Consolation to His Wife"? Is biographical information of Richard Steele necessary to attain a deeper understanding of "An Hour or Two Sacred to Sorrow?"

Essay Topic 2

Michel de Montaigne speaks about the nature of reading and writing in his essays "Of Books" and "On Some Verses of Virgil."

A) What is Montaigne's philosophy of education? What does it mean to acquire and have an education? How does level of education separate people?

B) What is Montaigne's philosophy in regards to borrowing from other sources, including classical authors. Why does he do this borrowing?

Essay Topic 3

Choose two essays.

A) Describe the biographical background of each author.

B) Describe the subject and author's intention ("message") with each essay.

C) Explain how A) and B) are related. Why is an understanding of biography often critical with the personal essay medium? In these two cases, how can we measure the influence of life events on the essay's philosophy and point of view?

(see the answer keys)

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