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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. In Letter XII, what does Seneca notice about one of his properties?

2. Why does Seneca say he took the ride in Letter LV?

3. What does Seneca say cannot be learned only through reading?

4. What holiday is celebrated at the time Letter XVII is written?

5. What is the topic of Letter III?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Seneca's thoughts on fear and how to eliminate it from life?

2. Why does Lucilius call Seneca a hypocrite in Letter VIII?

3. According to Seneca, how should a wise man deal with grief itself?

4. How does Seneca explain how he partakes of the festivities of Saturnalia?

5. When does Seneca say a master should correct his slaves? How should slaves be corrected and why?

6. What does Seneca say about developing friendships?

7. As Seneca comforts Lucilius at the loss of his friend, he says grief has a purpose. What is that purpose and how should a wise Stoic man deal with the death of a friend?

8. According to Seneca, who should think about death and why?

9. According to Seneca, how much concern should a wise man have regarding his or others' physical beauty?

10. Lucilius writes Seneca that his melancholy mood remained unchanged no matter how far he traveled from home. How does Seneca explain Lucilius' complaint?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the value of a liberal arts education according to Seneca.

Essay Topic 2

Compare and contrast the lives and deaths of Socrates and Seneca.

Essay Topic 3

What is an aphorism and what is Seneca's opinion of them? What is his response to Lucilius when he requests aphorisms?

(see the answer keys)

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