Question 1

Do you agree that life should involve a constant contemplation of death? Why or why not? What would that look like? What do you imagine Simone de Beauvoir (Reading 118) would say to such a suggestion? Whose view do you sympathize more with, and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Do you agree that life should involve...

Question 2

What does the poem say the woman ate when she was young?

Accepted Answer

The poem mentions that the woman ate wild rice when she was young.

Question 3

Matthieu says that the way that Westerners typically approach death and the way that people typically die in the West are indicative of a spiritual void. What do you think that he means by that? Give concrete examples of how his view might be made more specific. Do you agree with his conclusion? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Matthieu says that the way that Westerners...

Question 4

The passage ends with __________.

Accepted Answer

The passage ends with a physical action, specifically a gate shutting, rather than any of the other options provided.

Question 5

Jean-François says that approaches to death can be divided into two kinds: survival views and disappearance views. How, from what each of them says, could Buddhism fit or not fit into each of these? Which view do you think would lead to a more constructive and healthy view of death, and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jean-François says that approaches to death can...

Question 6

What does the man do to gain admittance to the Law?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What does the man do to gain...

Question 7

In what city is the woman?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In what city is the woman?
...

Question 8

Is the man on trial? If so, for what? Why does the man not leave and go about his life?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Is the man on trial? If so,...

Question 9

The man thinks the law should be accessible to everyone.

Accepted Answer

Making the law accessible to everyone ensures that individuals are aware of their rights and obligations, promotes justice, and supports the principle of equality before the law.

Question 10

Why is the Law only for this man? And why does the doorkeeper close the door as soon as the man asks the final question, about why no one else has come seeking the Law?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is the Law only for this...

Question 11

To what extent and why is euthanasia unacceptable for the Buddhist, according to Matthieu? Do you agree with the argument he presents? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of To what extent and why is euthanasia...

Question 12

"Before the Law" is an allegory.

Accepted Answer

"Before the Law" is an allegory written by Franz Kafka, which uses a simple narrative to explore complex themes of law, authority, and the pursuit of justice.

Question 13

What does the poem say the woman hears?

Accepted Answer

The poem mentions that the woman hears voices.

Question 14

What do you think that this parable could be saying about the meaning of existence? What could it be saying about how you should live?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do you think that this parable...

Question 15

The women notes that the birds above her could be a halo.

Accepted Answer

The women notes that the birds above her could be a halo.

Question 16

Why is suicide unacceptable for the Buddhist? Do you agree with the view Matthieu presents? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is suicide unacceptable for the Buddhist?...

Question 17

What do you think that the Law might represent in this parable? What do you think that the doorkeeper stands for? What is it that we all "strive to reach"? What is the illumination from the gate that appears at the end of the man's life? (You might have more than one possible answer for these questions).

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do you think that the Law...

Question 18

What compels the woman of the poem toward death? What holds her back? How can her life shed light on the relationships among poverty, racism, and suicide and on the socio-cultural aspects of death?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What compels the woman of the poem...

Question 19

What is the woman doing in the poem?

Accepted Answer

The phrase "Hanging on" suggests a metaphorical struggle, often used to describe someone enduring difficult circumstances, which can include contemplating suicide. The other options (A, B, C) are more mundane activities that don't necessarily imply the depth of emotional or psychological struggle indicated by "Hanging on."

Question 20

Who stands before the law?

Accepted Answer

In Franz Kafka's parable "Before the Law," it is a doorkeeper who stands before the law, barring the man from the country from entering.

Quiz 4: Believing

Do you agree that life should involve a constant contemplation of death? Why or why not? What would that look like? What do you imagine Simone de Beauvoir (Reading 118) would say to such a suggestion? Whose view do you sympathize more with, and why?

What does the poem say the woman ate when she was young?

The passage ends with __________.

Jean-François says that approaches to death can be divided into two kinds: survival views and disappearance views. How, from what each of them says, could Buddhism fit or not fit into each of these? Which view do you think would lead to a more constructive and healthy view of death, and why?

What does the man do to gain admittance to the Law?

In what city is the woman?

Is the man on trial? If so, for what? Why does the man not leave and go about his life?

The man thinks the law should be accessible to everyone.

Why is the Law only for this man? And why does the doorkeeper close the door as soon as the man asks the final question, about why no one else has come seeking the Law?

To what extent and why is euthanasia unacceptable for the Buddhist, according to Matthieu? Do you agree with the argument he presents? Why or why not?

"Before the Law" is an allegory.

What does the poem say the woman hears?

What do you think that this parable could be saying about the meaning of existence? What could it be saying about how you should live?

The women notes that the birds above her could be a halo.

Why is suicide unacceptable for the Buddhist? Do you agree with the view Matthieu presents? Why or why not?

What compels the woman of the poem toward death? What holds her back? How can her life shed light on the relationships among poverty, racism, and suicide and on the socio-cultural aspects of death?

What is the woman doing in the poem?

Who stands before the law?