View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who protested when his friends rescued him from delusion?

2. Folly says that popes would lose all advantages if they showed what?

3. Folly states that Christ compared himself with which foolish animal?

4. What did Aaron, Saul, and David all point to as an excuse for their sins?

5. Folly believes that medicine and law are an aspect of what?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Folly, how did Christ show folly?

2. Does Folly state that monks are foolish?

3. Where in the courts of kings does Folly say that she is evident?

4. Before using the Scriptures, which authorities does Folly cite as supporting her?

5. How does Folly say that schoolmasters are indebted to her?

6. How does Folly compare theologians to the apostles?

7. What example does Folly take from the animal kingdom to prove her point that the most foolish are the happiest?

8. After comparing herself to Bacchus, in what ways does Folly consider herself superior to the other gods?

9. What examples does Folly give of the benevolent form of insanity?

10. How does Folly differentiate between the two types of insanity?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"There is merit in being attacked by Folly." Is the converse also true? Show three examples from the book in which Erasmus intended to attack with his praise.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss references to marriage in the Praise of Folly. Were Folly's parents married? What is Folly's role in marriage? Does Erasmus have a favorable view of marriage?

Essay Topic 3

Folly both disparages wisdom and claims that she guides men to wisdom. Discuss Folly's concept of wisdom and relationship to it. What is Erasmus saying through Folly?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 639 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample