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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. Montaigne is particularly interested in what quality of the waters of different regions?

2. Montaigne writes that people from what nation were often relied upon to establish and maintain social order?

3. Which of the following feudal ranks are counts and barons above?

4. Montaigne visits what type of a religious site dedicated to St. George?

5. Montaigne's perspective causes him to focus on what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the powers that Roman baths are reputed to have?

2. What does Montaigne say about the differences in the desires of men and women?

3. What does Montaigne say about truth?

4. What is Montaigne's general perspective?

5. What does Montaigne admit about himself?

6. What did the notorious criminal Catena once force two men to do before he killed them?

7. What was Montaigne's general attitude towards women?

8. How does Montaigne says that personal character is related to repentance?

9. What church promotion occurred in Trent while Montaigne was there?

10. What qualities interest Montaigne about public water?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Montaigne's own relationship with his father was formative in his life, and it affected many of his beliefs and writings.

1) Characterize the general relationship that Montaigne and his father.

2) Describe the positive character traits that Montaigne attributes to the influence of his father. Asses the validity of these attributions and discuss some other possible traits that Montaigne failed to identify in himself.

3) Discuss the major life choices that Montaigne made which were directly or indirectly affected by his father's advice and council.

4) Describe some of the ways that Montaigne was affected by the death of his father.

Essay Topic 2

Montaigne believes in the reality of objective truth, ideas that exist in a perfect state, without the need for human interpretation. He believes that although he, and all other humans, are imperfect interpreters of these truths, they cannot be diminished or tarnished in any way by human failings.

1) Discuss the concept of truth that Montaigne articulates in his essays. How are truths understood and derived, and where do they come from? How do human beings interact with the truth?

2) Montaigne suggests that he may contradict himself from time to time. Discuss one example of this, and describe how Montaigne might explain his mistake. How would he justify the perfection of the truth he was attempting to express in the face of this contradiction?

3) Discuss the importance of the concept of objective truth in some of Montaigne's other philosophies. How does it relate to these other ideas, and how are his arguments bolstered by a reliance on objective truth?

Essay Topic 3

Montaigne believes solitude to be exceedingly important in the pursuit of honestly and unfiltered self-analysis, a goal he regards as being objectively desirable. He claims that one's thought and words are affected by others, even if only out of politeness and sociability, and that this filtering acts to hinder proper, honest thought.

1) Explain why Montaigne believes that achieving honest self-analysis is a desirable goal. Discuss some of the prerequisites that Montaigne sees as being necessary for achieving this goal.

2) Discuss the effect that Montaigne believes other people have on an individual's thought processes. Is this reaction essential good or bad? Is it dishonest or sincere?

3) Describe the importance that Montaigne places on solitude, and what he believes people should do to benefit most from the experience of solitude. How does this belief tie into his assertion about self-analysis?

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