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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. Whose plan does Lady Philosophy argue everything always goes according to?

2. What does Philosophy say of honor?

3. What does Philosophy say about men trying to find happiness?

4. What does Philosophy say of the wicked?

5. What does Boethius say to Philosophy at the start of Book 3?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does God use providence?

2. What are some of the opinions about what the highest good is, according to the woman?

3. Why do the five goods eventually disappoint their possessors?

4. What is the conclusion about the happiness and man's participation in happiness?

5. What does the woman remark about randomness and order?

6. Why do God's methods defy human reason?

7. In Book IV, what can be concluded about the wicked being punished?

8. What is the essence of true happiness as introduced at the beginning of Book III?

9. Why should the five goods not be entirely dismissed?

10. What does the woman liken God to and what is the significance of this analogy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In light of Augustine's four levels of allegory, including the literal, moral, spiritual and analogical, consider how Boethius' "The Consolation of Philosophy" works on all four levels. Define the four levels of allegory and use examples of each, while analyzing their meaning.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the analogy of God being like a craftsman in "The Consolation of Philosophy". Define analogy in your essay and discuss what this analogy means, supporting your statements with examples from the book.

Essay Topic 3

In "The Consolation of Philosophy", discuss Boethius' use of satire and how it benefits the piece of literature. Use the book to support your statements and analyze satire, particularly in the apocalyptic dialogue.

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