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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Styron say the award he received should have done for him?
(a) Restore his ego.
(b) Make him new friends.
(c) Make him famous.
(d) Pay all his bills.

2. In the depth of his depression in Paris, what does Styron realize he would have to decide?
(a) What doctor to see about it.
(b) Whether to admit it to the press or not.
(c) The philosophical question of whether life is worth living or not.
(d) Whether to tell his wife or not.

3. How long does Stryon say it will be before he returns to Paris?
(a) A month.
(b) Forever.
(c) A year.
(d) A couple of years.

4. According to Styron, why is the word depression so hard for people to accept?
(a) It indicates a weak person.
(b) People can't understand what it means.
(c) It is the word for a hole in the ground, which is very demeaning for a name of a major illness.
(d) It has not been heard of before.

5. What does Styron think after his flashback?
(a) That he did have some good times in the past.
(b) That his life has been great.
(c) That he has come full circle.
(d) That he didn't like visiting Paris.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Levi's friends and admirers react to his suicide?

2. What bothers Styron about his meeting with Gary's estranged wife?

3. What does Gary reveal to Styron about the effect the death of his ex-wife had on him?

4. What does Styron say is the most universal symptom of depression?

5. Why doesn't Styron recognize Camus's depression?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happened to Styron and his drinking habits and how did that affect him?

2. What other changes occurred with Styron beside mental distress?

3. What does Styron say about the causes of depression?

4. What sort of therapy was used to help Styron overcome his depression?

5. What is the relationship between artistic temperaments and suicide and what was Styron's appeal in relationship to it?

6. Styron describes what common factor among almost all depressed persons contemplating suicide?

7. Discuss how Styron says he attempted to handle the increasing malaise that began to overcome him beginning in the summer.

8. What did Styron say was so harmful that doctors were prone to do for depressed people and why?

9. Why did Styron say it was so hard for family members to accept a person's suicide, and what did they usually do about it?

10. What role does Styron say friends and family play for the person with depression?

(see the answer keys)

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