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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. What classic philosopher did Scarry quote to illustrate the link between beauty and justice?

2. Why can't poems be harmed?

3. What does Scarry say about the demotion of beauty?

4. What was Iris Murdoch's occupation?

5. What mid-century writer did Scarry quote to illustrate the link between beauty and justice?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Scarry say can never be harmful to humans, and why?

2. How does Scarry feel about the political implications on beauty in her time?

3. What about beauty did Scarry's critics say was destructive?

4. What is the double meaning of fairness?

5. What does Scarry say is different about people searching for beauty?

6. What mental actions does Scarry write about, and what do they cause?

7. How does Scarry say most people feel when they admire beauty in others?

8. How do gods prove the usefulness of beauty?

9. What did Rilke salute with his words on beauty and justice?

10. What does Scarry say about gardens?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What was the analogy of the garden, and what message was sent through that analogy?

Essay Topic 2

What were the four examples Scarry used to claim that beauty causes no harm, and how were they used?

Essay Topic 3

How did Scarry incorporate personification into this book, and what effect did this have on the tone of it?

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