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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

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

2. Why did the gods view Sisyphus' punishment as particularly dreadful?
(a) It involved immense pain.
(b) It was unfair relative to his crime.
(c) They saw their mistake but were unable to change things.
(d) It involved futile and hopeless labor.

3. What important factor limits human freedom?
(a) His absurd nature.
(b) Time.
(c) Frailty.
(d) Physical movement.

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

5. What is Camus' view concerning the idea that the artist can be detached from his work?
(a) He supports the idea.
(b) He believes this is essential in being able to form and utter critique.
(c) He believes this idea is outmoded and false.
(d) He believes the idea warrants closer examination.

Short Answer Questions

1. How are myths given life?

2. What is the hero's great fear following his transformation?

3. What was Sisyphus' attitude to the gods?

4. What should be the response to subterfuge?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. What important feature of Dostoevsky's work does Camus explore in the section entitled 'Kirilov'?

2. Why is the fame of a writer likely to endure and that of an actor not to do so?

3. What technique of Kafka's does Camus posit as the reason for the unity in that writer's work?

4. Why does Camus wonder if an absurd work of art is truly possible?

5. What does Camus say is tiresome about the human heart (p. 115 of the Penguin edition)?

6. What is Camus' attitude to Galileo?

7. How does Camus describe the Church's treatment of heretics?

8. What is The Trial about?

9. In an absurd universe, are all actions permitted?

10. Why is Sisyphus completely appropriate as the absurd hero?

(see the answer keys)

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