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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What were the consequences of Sisyphus putting Death in chains?
(a) People partied continuously because Death never visited them.
(b) Pluto took Medea hostage.
(c) Death took a terrible revenge.
(d) Pluto's empire became deserted and silent.

2. What does Homer have to say about Sisyphus?
(a) That he was the wisest and most prudent of mortals.
(b) That he was an inept fool.
(c) That he had no fear of Pluto.
(d) That his heroic deeds ought not to have been punished.

3. What is the main idea in the final paragraph of the essay 'The Myth of Sisyphus'?
(a) The struggle for achievement is enough: it is its own reward.
(b) No matter how hard we struggle, the gods will always win.
(c) We can't be free unless the gods allow it.
(d) All we can do is struggle.

4. Commonly, what concerns Dostoevsky's heroes?
(a) Whether or not love and loyalty can endure.
(b) Whether or not evil people should be permitted to live.
(c) The meaning of life.
(d) The morality of suicide.

5. What argument does Camus dismiss as 'a matter of profound indifference'?
(a) The absurd dilemma.
(b) Whether or not the earth revolves around the sun.
(c) Whether or not the Bible is literally true.
(d) The ontological argument.

6. According to Camus, what is the most obvious symbol in The Trial?
(a) Shame.
(b) An insect.
(c) Naturalness.
(d) A knife.

7. Why is it necessary to read a Kafka work twice?
(a) His prose is very dense.
(b) In order to savor the beauty of his writing.
(c) There is a double possibility of interpretation.
(d) There are complex relationships and a host of characters.

8. What is a characteristic of wisdom?
(a) Living on what one has, not speculating about what one does not have.
(b) Living with faith and integrity and reserving judgement.
(c) Knowing when to take things on trust, as well as when not to.
(d) Being able to supply a rationale for any action.

9. What kind of thought is involved in the absurd?
(a) Lateral.
(b) Contradictory.
(c) Rational.
(d) Creative.

10. What was Sisyphus' attitude to the gods?
(a) He viewed them with horror and distrust.
(b) He was insanely jealous of them.
(c) He worshipped them and wanted to be a god, too.
(d) He scorned them.

11. What comment does Camus make concerning suffering?
(a) It is ennobling.
(b) It is useless.
(c) It should be avoided.
(d) It must be endured.

12. What sacrifice does Loyola say God rejoices in?
(a) The sacrifice of celibacy.
(b) The sacrifice of hope.
(c) The sacrifice of the intellect.
(d) The sacrifice of humility?

13. Why does Chestov think we turn to God?
(a) Only to obtain the impossible.
(b) To have the feling that 'underneath are the everlasting arms'.
(c) Only to gain favors.
(d) Because we are afraid.

14. What comment of Nietzsche's does Camus make reference to near the beginning of the chapter on Philosophy and Fiction?
(a) 'Scattered thoughts can be both orderly and disorderly.'
(b) 'Midway in life's journey we need to enter a dark wood.'
(c) 'What does not destroy me makes me stronger.'
(d) 'We have art in order not to die of the truth.'

15. In what ways are the thinker and the artist alike?
(a) Both thinker and artist have commitment and become themselves in their work.
(b) Both have a desire to influence the minds of others.
(c) Both have total commitment to success.
(d) Both have a tendency to reject expressionism.

Short Answer Questions

1. According to Camus, what is tiresome about the human attitude to fate?

2. What is the most harrowing passion of all?

3. What embodies 'a drama of the intelligence', according to Camus?

4. What has Camus to say about 'great revolutions'?

5. Who is the author of Discourses of Edification?

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