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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. Even though most people make him sick, why does the narrator still love fellow man?

2. Which season does the narrator generally discuss?

3. What kinds of things tend to hurt the narrator easily, according to him?

4. What does the narrator say allows poison to enter the human heart?

5. What kind of people make up the narrator's life?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator credit mirrors and wardrobes for doing?

2. Discuss the office boy's travels and the narrator's view of them.

3. When does the narrator say wisdom begins?

4. What does the narrator say about tedium?

5. Discuss the narrator's initial feelings in a barber shop and why they changed.

6. What does the narrator say about intelligent and sensitive people? Since they can't be banned to an island, what should they do and why?

7. Who is Omar Khayyám, and how does he differ from the narrator?

8. What are the narrator's thoughts on writing perfect literature? Which classic example does he analyze to make his point and what does he say about it?

9. According to the narrator, what is the only true form of pleasure that exists? Explain his reasoning.

10. What does the narrator say about memories that never occurred?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define autobiography and explain why this book is considered to be one.

Essay Topic 2

Define "fact," "theory," and "opinion." Explain why it is important to differentiate among the terms when reading nonfiction. Relate each term to a specific example in The Book of Disquiet.

Essay Topic 3

What is a motif in literature? Specifically discuss two motifs from The Book of Disquiet.

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This section contains 700 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample