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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. Into what has St. Augustine sunk?

2. What motivates Augustine's decision to become a philosopher?

3. Why does Augustine read books of rhetoric?

4. Instead of learning Christian stories, what does Augustine learn?

5. Upon what does Augustine wonder?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Augustine want to move and why?

2. What intensifies as Augustine grows into a young man and of what type of behavior does he indulge?

3. Why did one of Augustine's friends abandon Christianity and what happens after that?

4. Basically, what is Confessions about?

5. What kind of pressure does Augustine feel as a young person and what does he do about it?

6. What did Augustine write about that involved a theft of pears and how did he feel about it?

7. What does Augustine's parents want for him?

8. What does Augustine foreshadow about philosophy and himself?

9. What gives Augustine an excuse to continue following his baser desires?

10. What does Augustine feel the pear tree incident symbolized?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Though Augustine admits that he benefited from his studies of Latin and Greek literature, he resents how he was led astray morally by some of the stories. When he read of Zeus engaging in fornication and being powerful, it also made him want to do these deeds. So, already in boyhood, Augustine sees the struggle to form his moral judgment and not be led astray by popular stories or opinion.

1. Do you agree with Augustine's assertion about the influence the Greek and Latin literature had on his behavior? Why or why not?

2. In today's society there are people who assert that reading books about violent acts cause people to commit violent acts. Do you agree with this idea? Why or why not?

3. How do you think this idea of Augustine's about being led astray has influenced the justice system of the western world?

Essay Topic 2

In book V, Augustine wants to move to Rome, in Italy. He hears that the students are much more disciplined there. In Carthage, students would walk in and out of class during a lecture and certain students would be very disruptive. Augustine hears that this type of behavior is not tolerated at schools in Rome.

1. Compare and contrast students in that age to those in the present day.

2. What do you think it means to be a "student?" Give examples and think about this idea "outside the box." Can you relate your ideas to Augustine as a student?

3. What do you think it means to be a "teacher?" Give examples and think about this idea "outside the box." Can you relate your ideas to Augustine as a teacher?

Essay Topic 3

Augustine asks questions such as, "whether I had any knowledge of myself when I was in the womb?" and, "where did I come from?" Augustine asks all these questions, but they do not shake his faith as they would modern skeptics, but rather strengthen his feeling about the mystery and omnipotence and infinite wisdom of God.

1. What do you think is meant by this statement? Use examples from the book to support your answer.

2. Do you think these two questions Augustine asked are common questions? How important are these two questions to you?

3. How would you go about trying to find an answer to these two questions of Augustine's within yourself or your belief system?

(see the answer keys)

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