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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 type of clothing is the woman wearing?

2. According to Philosophy, what are the remarks Philosophy makes about Fortune at the beginning of the Book II?

3. How does the woman speak to Boethius?

4. What are the two main characteristics of Fortune's personality?

5. What became rusty according to the test administered by the woman to Boethius?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the title, "The Consolation of Philosophy"?

2. What is significant about conscience in Book 1?

3. Why does Boethius praise God?

4. What is the significance of the woman's discussion with Boethius on blessings when Boethius complains about the tangibility of his pain?

5. Why does Boethius disagree with the woman regarding misery and what is her rebuttal?

6. What does the woman tell Boethius regarding his suffering?

7. What diagnosis does the Lady Philosophy make and what does she point out at the beginning of Book II?

8. Why does the woman praise Boethius' former way of life in comparison to his present situation?

9. Who does the woman liken Boethius to and why?

10. What is significant about the changing height of the woman who enters Boethius' cell?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Book IV, Boethius address the substance of evil and concludes that evil has no substance. Discuss why evil has no substance and how it does not participate in the supreme good. Give examples and determine whether Boethius was correct in his conclusion.

Essay Topic 2

Boethius uses personification in this book. Students should write an essay that defines personification and analyzes Boethius' use of personification. Discuss why he uses a woman as a personification of philosophy and how this is significant.

Essay Topic 3

"The Consolation of Philosophy" includes some of the poetry Boethius composed while imprisoned. In an essay, discuss the poetry and how the poems within the prose either diminish or illustrate the textual meaning. Use examples from the text to support your discussion.

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