ASSIGNMENT
a) Read Augustine's Confessions
STUDY QUESTIONS:
Background
a. Augustine's chronology: what are the years of his birth and death? Locate these in relation to Athanasius and Eusebius. (pg. 19)
b. His geography: where did he live, teach?
c. His reputation: he is the greatest Latin Doctor. Why "Latin"? Why "Doctor"?
d. His influence: what is his position in the catholic church?, the protestant churches?
e. His writings: City of God and Confessions his two most influential books. What is each about?
f. His life: how does the contrast between the internal life described in the book and the external life we would have seen help to illuminate his purpose in writing the book?
Confessions
Book 1
- What is the purpose of the opening chapters, especially 4?
- Chapters 6-7 Why does he point out his sins as a tiny infant?
- Chapter 11 For what purpose was his baptism postponed when he was deathly sick?
- Chapters 13-18 What aspect of his education is he attacking?
- What is the point of chapter 20 as a wrap-up to book 1?
Book 2
- Chapters 2-3 Why did his parents not want him to marry?
- Chapters 5-6 What aspect of his pear-stealing does he hate most?
- Chapters 8-9 Why did he do it?
Book 3
- Chapter 4 What book caused a profound alteration in him?
- Chapter 5 How did he perceive the Scriptures at this time?
- Chapters 6 and 10 What characterized the Manichees?
- Chapters 11-12 Describe the two signs his mother received of his future salvation.
Book 4
- Chapters 6-7 What effect did his friend's death have on him?
- Chapter 8 What was the "huge fable" which he loved more than he loved God? (side note: take note of his description of friendship in this chapter)
- Chapter 16 How did his wide reading and understanding begin to affect his search for truth?
Book 5
- Chapters 3, 6-7 Who was Faustus? How did he who had been a snare for so many begin to release Augustine from the trap?
- Chapter 9 What was Monica's role in Augustine's salvation?
- Chapter 11 Although he was abandoning Manicheism, what was the one thing that still tripped him up?
- Chapter 13 When he moved to Milan to teach literature and rhetoric, whom did he meet?
- What was A's initial motivation in listening to him speak? How did he begin to answer the last stumbling block laid by the Manichees? How does Ambrose contrast with Faustus?
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