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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. According to Burke, what is more powerful than light at representing the sublime?

2. What is the general reason Burke wrote the book, as stated in the First Preface?

3. Why are the cries of animals sublime, according to Burke?

4. What two aspects comprise Burke's "artificial infinity?"

5. What does Burke assert is necessary for the success of "A Philosophical Enquiry Into the Origin of Our Ideas of the Sublime and Beautiful"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the cause of a wrong taste, and what are examples of it?

2. What is the significance of power in Burke's Enquiry, and what is one example he gives of power?

3. What does Burke argue about tastes that deviate from causes other than habit or use?

4. Describe the types of dimensional greatness Burke notes are part of the sublime.

5. Describe Burke's idea of beauty.

6. What is the main problem with creating prescribed definitions, especially of taste, according to Burke?

7. What is the significance of the senses to the faculty of taste, according to Burke?

8. What are some of the cautions or caveats Burke offers to his readers in the Second Preface?

9. What is the significance of the imagination, to Burke?

10. Why, according to Burke, are the principles of reason and taste the same in all humans?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Burke's definition of the sublime. What passions or sensations fuel it? What is the significance of pain and pleasure to the sublime? Describe Burke's ideas of the passions belonging to self-preservation and the passions belonging to society. What are the key differences between them? Give at least three examples of things which would be considered sublime, and explain the relevance of these examples.

Essay Topic 2

Carefully analyze Part III, sections VI, IX, and XV, looking for passages which you think are particularly important in demonstrating ways in which Burke characterizes women. Pay close attention to Burke's word choice, imagery, use of metaphor or other figurative speech, and his general tone. How does he use women to demonstrate that perfection is not the cause of beauty? How does Burke use women as examples to demonstrate some of the aspects of beauty? What gender distinctions does Burke make between men and women, and do these distinctions seem to move beyond merely the realm of the beautiful? What parts of the female body, and what characteristics of femininity, does Burke focus on? What portions of the body or characteristics of femininity does Burke neglect?

Essay Topic 3

How does Burke define and categorize power? What is the significance of power to the sublime? What is power's relation to pain and pleasure? How does Burke relate danger to power? What are some of the examples Burke uses to represent power, and do you think they are accurate examples?

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