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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. In Letter 5, what does Abelard ask Heloise to stop in the future?

2. What does Abelard remind Heloise he did when she was pregnant?

3. What does Abelard ask Heloise to do if he is killed?

4. What did Abelard do with his inheritance?

5. What does Abelard say motivated him to tell Heloise the things that filled her with despair?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Letter 4, why does Heloise say she is disappointed with Abelard's response?

2. Why does Heloise say there should be different standards for women?

3. What does Abelard say is the purpose of monastic life?

4. Why does Abelard say he was avoiding contact with Heloise?

5. What occasioned Heloise's letter to Abelard?

6. What does Abelard ask Heloise to stop doing in the future?

7. What does Heloise say about her burdens in Letter 6?

8. What does Abelard assure to Heloise in Letter 3?

9. What does Heloise say about answering Abelard's requests of her?

10. Where does Abelard say his sufferings came from?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Define the role of class status in The Letters of Abelard and Heloise. In what ways does Abelard and Heloise's class status affect their story? How would this story be different if they were poor from the outset?

Essay Topic 2

Evaluate the story of Abelard and Heloise as a love story. Is it compelling, tragic, uplifting, unique? Is it an allegory for all lovers or a historical document pertaining to two people alone?

Essay Topic 3

Describe who would find this work interesting and useful, and describe as well what uses this book could be put to? What questions does it answer? Are the letters of Abelard and Heloise artwork, philosophy, church history, or personal correspondence? Which predominates?

(see the answer keys)

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