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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. Where was Abelard born?

2. Heloise says that consolation shared is what?

3. What does Heloise say makes it impossible to endure Abelard's absence?

4. What does Heloise ask Abelard in her first letter?

5. What else does Abelard ask Heloise to do pray for?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Heloise compare Abelard and God?

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

4. What reason does Abelard give for writing to Heloise again in Letter 5?

5. What caused the author of Letter 9to write the letter?

6. How did Abelard seduce Heloise?

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

8. How is Letter 7 organized?

9. How does Abelard end Letter 7?

10. Describe what Fulbert's family did to Abelard.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the power of prayer supposed to be in these letters? Are the letters themselves prayers? How is prayer distinct from these letters?

Essay Topic 2

What is the effect of the letters between Abelard and Heloise? Describe the consequences of their correspondence, in terms of their own lives, and in terms of the lives of the monks and nuns they knew, and in terms of the monastic order.

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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