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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. How many statues does Folly have?

2. When did Christ first make himself a fool, in Folly's opinion?

3. To whom does God reveal the mystery of salvation, according to Folly?

4. What is Folly's temple?

5. Who can speak the truth without giving offense, according to Folly?

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain the communal form of Self-love, which Folly claims Nature has implanted.

2. What are naturally-born fools and idiots free from, according to Folly?

3. Describe the worship of the goddess Folly.

4. According to Folly, which legendary age produced the happiest people, and why?

5. How does Folly explain that humans amuse the gods?

6. Does Folly state that monks are foolish?

7. How does Folly respond to the argument that foolishness is an unhappy state?

8. How does Folly argue that flattery is not incompatible with sincerity?

9. How does Folly relate to sin in the cases of Aaron, Saul, David, and Paul?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Folly's main argument is that she brings happiness to men. Explain and give three examples of men who are made happier by Folly. Would you agree?

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?

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