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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why did Peter the Venerable send Abelard away?

2. For what is Heloise arguing in Letter 6?

3. What does Peter the Venerable say to Heloise in Letter 10?

4. For what does Abelard ask Heloise at the end of Letter 7?

5. What does Abelard say in Letter 7 about the virtue of women?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Research the history of the letters of Abelard and Heloise. By what mechanisms were they transmitted to posterity? Who made sure that these letters survived? Were they ever in danger of being lost? What value do written texts have to Abelard and Heloise and their culture? What makes the written absolution important? What provision is made for the preservation of textual culture?

Essay Topic 2

What does 'love' mean to Abelard and Heloise? How do their letters--and their actions--define it?

Essay Topic 3

What does The Letters of Abelard and Heloise tell us about being male or female? How does the text represent masculinity and femininity? What are the roles appropriate to either gender? How do Abelard and Heloise define the differences? Where do they overlap?

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This section contains 280 words (approx. 1 page at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample