Darkness Visible Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 157 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.

Darkness Visible Test | Mid-Book Test - Hard

This set of Lesson Plans consists of approximately 157 pages of tests, essay questions, lessons, and other teaching materials.
Buy the Darkness Visible Lesson Plans
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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 Styron, who wrote about depression and seemed to really understand it?

2. What happens to Gary's ex-wife?

3. What does Styron say about alcohol's mood-altering characteristics?

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

5. What does Styron say he will do with the prize money he won?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Styron begin preparing for his death?

2. What was special about Styron's situation with depression?

3. For the most part, the people Styron list as suffering from depression are artistic types or philosophers. Discuss why this may be so?

4. How did Dr. Gold's approach compare to the way the parish priest approached Emma in "Madame Bovary"?

5. What did Styron say was his most difficult piece of writing, and how did he describe it?

6. What happened to Styron's body as he succumbed to depression?

7. What hope does Styron offer to those who survive depression?

8. 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?

9. Where did Styron meet Abbie Hoffman, and why was Hoffman's suicide so hard to accept?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The difference between an autobiography and a memoir is that the memoir is about a specific topic or time span in the author's life. An autobiography is similar, but usually takes a more global look at the writer's life, including background information that leads up to the point in time of the events being examined. Discuss how Darkness Visible is a memoir, but has some characteristics of autobiography. Defend your idea of whether the work is a memoir or more of an autobiography. Use examples from the book to prove your position.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss what Styron's purpose is for writing "Darkness Visible." What might he want us to know and understand about his subject? Include what he states openly as well as what you understand him to want to say. Why does he think it is important to make us understand this?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Styron's thoughts about human resiliency and social report and provide examples from the book. How important are each of these to an individual's recovery and survival?

(see the answer keys)

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