View a FREE sample

This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In Letter 5, what does Abelard ask Heloise to stop in the future?
(a) Trying to see him.
(b) Rebelling against fate.
(c) Writing him with her complaints.
(d) Doubting God's grace.

2. What does Abelard say motivated him to tell Heloise the things that filled her with despair?
(a) Desire to fill her soul with awe and desire for repentance.
(b) Desire to educate her about man's wicked ways.
(c) Desire to share in suffering out of love.
(d) Desire for God's forgiveness.

3. What aspects of his personality does Abelard attribute to his native region?
(a) His even temper.
(b) His love of women.
(c) His volatile personality.
(d) His devotion.

4. Where does Abelard ask Heloise to take his body if he dies?
(a) Paraclete.
(b) Argenteuil.
(c) Paris.
(d) St. Denis.

5. To what does Abelard return in his third letter to Heloise?
(a) Asking for her whereabouts.
(b) Asking for her forgiveness.
(c) Asking her to pray for him.
(d) Asking her for help.

6. What enables Abelard to return to Paris?
(a) William of Champeaux offered him his chair at the university.
(b) William of Champeaux invited him back.
(c) Anselm of Canterbury offered him his chair in the university.
(d) William of Champeaux's reputation was in decline.

7. What does Heloise ask Abelard to think about?
(a) What she can do for him.
(b) Whether they ought to see each other again.
(c) What he owes her.
(d) What her father can do for them.

8. How does Heloise open her first letter to Abelard?
(a) By saying that she saw a letter he had written to a friend.
(b) By saying that she saw a letter her father was going to send to his henchmen.
(c) By saying that she saw a letter the abbot was going to send to Abelard.
(d) By saying that she saw a letter her father had written to the abbot.

9. For what does Abelard ask Heloise to pray?
(a) Justice.
(b) Revenge.
(c) Death.
(d) Forgiveness.

10. What does Abelard ask Heloise to consider?
(a) The power of virtuous men.
(b) The inevitability of justice.
(c) The power of prayer.
(d) The inevitability of suffering.

11. How does Heloise describe her and Abelard's story?
(a) Sad and moving.
(b) Tragic and unbearable.
(c) Moral and instructive.
(d) Appalling and outrageous.

12. What does Abelard make sure to say was NOT the case for his action?
(a) That he wanted to hide.
(b) That he was proud of what happened.
(c) That he did not care for her.
(d) That he felt he owed her a great debt.

13. In what way did Abelard establish his reputation and earn a following?
(a) Debating philosophy.
(b) Studying with Anselm of Laon.
(c) Fighting with William of Champeaux.
(d) Debating scripture.

14. How does Heloise describe Abelard's situation?
(a) She says he should suffer until death.
(b) She says he will never be finished expiating his crime.
(c) She says he is forgiven in her eyes and so should no longer suffer.
(d) She says he has paid the price with his castration.

15. What does Heloise say Abelard should not have done for her sake?
(a) Taken up scriptural studies.
(b) Sent her away.
(c) Married her.
(d) Left philosophy.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Heloise say are her feelings toward God?

2. In what way does Heloise pretend in her first letter to Abelard?

3. Whom does Abelard want to pray for him?

4. How does Heloise describe herself to Abelard?

5. How, in Letter 5, does Abelard say Heloise should see him now?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 607 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample