View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What does Philosophy say of true happiness?

3. What is happiness according to Philosophy's argument?

4. What does Philosophy say animals devote themselves to entirely?

5. What does Philosophy do after Boethius tells her what he wished about the evil?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is implied about the choices of men and the problem of evil?

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

3. What has nature ordained, according to Book III and what does this say about man's goal?

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

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

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

7. What is the error that men run into?

8. What does Book III claim about the insufficiency of achieving a high office?

9. How are actions their own rewards, as stated in Book IV?

10. In light of Christian doctrine, what is the significance of the statement that "there are, some of them extremely harsh, and some, I think, with a purifying mercy"(124)?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"The Consolation of Philosophy" includes some of the poetry Boethius composed while imprisoned. In an essay, discuss the poetry and how the poems within the prose either diminish or illustrate the textual meaning. Use examples from the text to support your discussion.

Essay Topic 2

The appearance of Lady Philosophy proves significant in "The Consolation of Philosophy". In an essay, analyze the significance of the dress she wears and the symbolism of the letters on her clothing. Define symbolism and use examples from the text to support your conclusions.

Essay Topic 3

In "The Consolation of Philosophy", Boethius addresses the question of eternity. In an essay, discuss what Boethius means when he says that God is eternal. Use the text to support your discussion.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 812 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample