CLEP Humanities : Analyzing the Form of Classical Nonfiction and Philosophy
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Example Questions
Example Question #191 : Literature
St. Augustine of Hippo's Confessions (c. 397 CE) is notable as an early example of the literary form known as __________.
autobiography
travelogue
catechism
historical fiction
epic poem
autobiography
Augustine's Confessions follows the life of the author from his birth through thirteen separate books. Primarily the story of Augustine's early spiritual and educational life and his eventual conversion to Christianity, the book nonetheless covers the important details of Augustine's life. This makes the Confessions one of the earliest examples of an autobiography.
Example Question #2 : Analyzing The Form Of Nonfiction And Philosophy
Which of the following best describes the literary style of Plato?
Dialogue
Treatise
Letter
Discourse
Tome
Dialogue
Although there are several letters attributed to Plato, the bulk of his works are written in the form of dialogues. In his philosophical works, he often writes of how Socrates disputes and discusses some matter with various figures of Athenian civic life. The dialogue style itself is masterful, often using literary devices to make subtle philosophical points. In this, he differs greatly from his student, Aristotle, whose works are quite dry (though also much more direct and clear than are Plato's works). Many later philosophers would write in the form of dialogues, though it is arguable that few ever matched the excellence of Plato's style.
Example Question #3 : Analyzing The Form Of Nonfiction And Philosophy
Which of the following best describes the genre of the Confessions of St. Augustine?
Discussion
Interrogation
Dialogue
Autobiography
Divulgence
Autobiography
In the Confessions, Augustine of Hippo pens a story of his conversion to Christianity. In this, he does "confess" his guilt and arrival at conversion from this guilty state of life. The whole work is written like a monologue to God—a long prayer. This is not offered as an option among those provided for this question. Instead, the closest genre here noted is that of autobiography. In a general way of speaking, Augustine does pen an autobiography by writing the Confessions. It does tell his life story up to a certain point in history, thus giving us a form of monologue-to-God-biography.
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