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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 writes that a wife should treat her husband as if he were what?

2. Montaigne writes that a wife should guard against her husband, regarding him as if he were what?

3. Guiseppe was skilled in what area?

4. Montaigne relates the rumors that certain baths are supposed to have powers related to what?

5. Montaigne is impressed by Roman dishes that are made of what material?

Short Essay Questions

1. What disappointed Montaigne in Rome?

2. Why does Montaigne admire Cato?

3. Describe the changes in languages that Montaigne encounters during the travels discussed in Travel Journal: Chapter 13?

4. What influences may have caused Montaigne to have a greater respect for women?

5. What qualities interest Montaigne about public water?

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

7. How does Montaigne say that he was able to deal with the restrictions of marriage?

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

9. According to the note at the beginning of Book 3 of Essays: Chapter 12, why is the editor interested in Montaigne's travel journals?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The Apology of Reymond Sebond", a major work in the medieval era, was of great interest to Montaigne, who translated a copy of it into French. He believed that the arguments is contained were of great importance to both Christians and non-Christians.

1) Discuss, in general, the content of Reymond Sebond's work, and describe its place in the intellectual discourse in Montaigne's time.

2) Describe some of the reasons that Montaigne regarded Sebond's work as being particularly important and influential.

3) Summarize the major points that Montaigne makes about this work, and any of the major weaknesses that he identifies.

4) Asses, overall, how meaningful and important Sebond's work was in its era.

Essay Topic 2

The city of Rome in Montaigne's time was exceptionally large and popular as a destination for pilgrims and travelers like Montaigne, who writes at length about the great city.

1) Explain Rome's importance in medieval Europe as a center for religion, commerce, and travel.

2) Discuss Montaigne's expectations for Rome, and the reasons he had for going there. What sites did Montaigne look forward to seeing, and what do these interests say about the culture of the time?

3) Describe the city as shown in Montaigne's journals. How did it match or differ from his expectations, and in what major ways was he disappointed or surprised? Make an assessment of the nature of the city as a whole.

Essay Topic 3

Feudalism was the dominant political doctrine in Europe in Montaigne's time, and the complex systems of interrelated heirarchies and social responsbilities affect his life and his writings greatly.

1) Explain the Feudal system as it existed in France at Montaigne's time. Explain its hierarchal system, and how is distributed political power. Explain some of the reasons that this system was so widespread and entrenched, and some of the unusual political situations that arose from it.

2) Discuss Montaigne's place in the Feudal system, and why he was promoted to mayor of Bordeaux late in his life. Explain some of the impact that this system had on his life and writings.

3) Assess what Montaigne's opinion of the system was overall, did he approve or disapprove of it, how and why?

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