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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 place does Seneca describe in "Scipio's Villa?"

2. What physical condition does Seneca discuss in a titular essay?

3. At which university did Abraham Cowley study?

4. According to Montaigne, what is the source of the difference between men and women?

5. Plutarch was a priest of which temple?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What position on slaves does Seneca take in his essay "Slaves?"

3. What is the subject of Montaigne's "Of Books?"

4. What is dealt with by Kenko in his essay "Essays in Idleness?"

5. Describe the "monstrous child" Montaigne speaks of in "Of a Monstrous Child."

6. As expressed in "On Some Verses of Virgil," what does Montaigne have to say about the nature of the sexes?

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

8. How are the writings of Montaigne structured?

9. Name three things that Sei Shonagon declares her dislike for in "Hateful Things."

10. Provide some biographical information on Plutarch? What was his contribution to world literature?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Food is the controlling idea in "Why Do I Fast" by Wole Soyinka and "Meatless Days" by Sara Suleri.

A) What is the attitude each author has about food?

B) How is food a metaphor for each author as they grapple with larger issues?

C) Why is biographical information crucial for a deeper understanding of these two essays?

Essay Topic 2

Sei Shonagon in "Hateful Things" and William Hazlitt in "On the Pleasure of Hating" both talk about the nature of hatred.

A) Is hate a healthy emotion, according to either author? Compare their views on the healthiness of hate.

B) What types of things are hated by each author? Are there more useful things than others to hate? What types of things might be too insignificant to hate?

Essay Topic 3

Ambition is the topic of both Abraham Cowley's "Of Greatness" and Seymour Krim's "For My Brothers and Sisters in the Failure Business"?

A) Contrast the tone of each essay. What might tone reveal about the author's own state of mind?

B) What message does each author have the audience? What should the reader take away from the essay?

C) What advice might Cowley have for Krim?

(see the answer keys)

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