Bartleby and “Existentialism” Test Questions: SHORT ESSAY.
On loose-leaf paper, respond to two of the following three topics in paragraph(s) form. Please number your
answers so that I know to which you are responding. Take your time and work out your thoughts, making
sure to provide enough evidence from the story to support your answers. Please be specific when referring
to the story.
1. The reader sees Bartleby’s choice: his choice is to remain suspended from all involvements,
which ultimately leads to his death.
How so? Give specific examples from the story.
2. It is as if Bartleby says, “There is absolutely no more reason for living.” In other words,
Bartleby chooses to die by his doing nothing.
How does this challenge your motives for living and “being”? In other words, how does this “go
against” why you do what you do everyday?
3. Bartleby affects others, bringing their own existence to the forefront. He makes others aware of
their own bad faith and causes them to undergo their own anxieties.
How do we see this occur within the story?
(Topics Adapted From: Richard S. Findler’s, “Bartleby’s Existential Reduction and Its Impact on Others)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- --Bartleby and “Existentialism” Test Questions: SHORT ESSAY.
On loose-leaf paper, respond to two of the following three topics in paragraph(s) form. Please number your
answers so that I know to which you are responding. Take your time and work out your thoughts, making
sure to provide enough evidence from the story to support your answers. Please be specific when referring
to the story.
1. The reader sees Bartleby’s choice: his choice is to remain suspended from all involvements,
which ultimately leads to his death.
How so?
2. It is as if Bartleby says, “There is absolutely no more reason for living.” In other words,
Bartleby chooses to die by his doing nothing.
How does this challenge your motives for living and “being”? In other words, how does this “go
against” why you do what you do everyday?
3. Bartleby affects others, bringing their own existence to the forefront. He makes others aware of
their own bad faith and causes them to undergo their own anxieties.
How do we see this occur within the story?
(Topics Adapted From: Richard S. Findler’s, “Bartleby’s Existential Reduction and Its Impact on Others)