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Confessions Study Guide

by Saint Augustine

Confessions study guide contains a biography of Saint Augustine, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Augustine's Confessions is not an autobiography in the literal sense, but is rather an autobiographical framework for a religious, moral, theological, and philosophical text. Augustine explores the nature of God and sin within the context of a Christian man's life. The work can thus be viewed as both a discursive document and a subjective personal story. It is one of the most influential books in the Catholic religion, apart from the Bible.

Augustine wrote of his life and education up until the point of his conversion. After his conversion, he focused (as, he implies, a good Christian should) on understanding the major points of Catholic Christian doctrine. The early chapters recount his birth up to adulthood, but not in a typical…

Read the full Confessions Summary

• Confessions Summary
• About Confessions
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Book I -- Early Life
• Summary and Analysis of Book II -- Adolescence
• Summary and Analysis of Book III -- Student at Carthage
• Summary and Analysis of Book IV -- Manichee and Astrologer
• Summary and Analysis of Book V -- Rome and Milan
• Summary and Analysis of Book VI -- Secular Ambitions and Conflicts
• Summary and Analysis of Book VII -- A Neoplatonic Quest
• Summary and Analysis of Book VIII -- The Birthpangs of Conversion
• Summary and Analysis of Book IX -- Cassiciacum: to Monica's death
• Summary and Analysis of Book X -- Memory
• Summary and Analysis of Book XI -- Time and Eternity
• Summary and Analysis of Book XII -- Platonic and Christian Creation
• Summary and Analysis of Book XIII -- Finding the Church in Genesis I
• Note on the Bible of St. Augustine
• Related Links on Confessions
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• Confessions: Major Themes
• Confessions: Essays
• Confessions: E-Text
• Confessions: Questions
• Confessions: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Saint Augustine: Biography