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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Stofsky often feels unloved and freakish due to ______________________.

2. What lie does Paul tell Gene in order to get him to come out for a drink?

3. Stofsky begins to wonder if God could be __________________.

4. Who is Stofsky's therapist?

5. What is the topic of an argument between Paul and Kathryn?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why are Paul and Kathryn at odds about his writing career and her job?

2. Why is it not out of place for someone like Stofsky to talk about psychological issues during this time period?

3. Why is Pasternak standing in front of Christine's house when Stofsky and Hobbes try to find him in the bars?

4. What is an example of how the post-war search for meaning is taking on toll on people?

5. How does the budding romance between Pasternak and Christine begin to mirror that of Paul and Kathryn's marriage?

6. How does the author show that Kathryn is more mature than Paul?

7. How does the frantic behavior of the characters undermine their relationships with each other?

8. What does Paul's letter to someone named Liza signify for the plot?

9. Describe the scene where Stofsky goes to see Waters in his flat and is picked up by the asylum attendants.

10. How are Paul and Kathryn at odds regarding their different emotional needs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Kathryn Hobbes. What does she look like? What are her positive personality traits? What are some of her negative characteristics? What are her hopes and fears? What motivates her during her lifetime?

Essay Topic 2

Create a brief character study of David Stofsky. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him during his lifetime?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Paul and Pasternak. What do they have in common? What are their primary differences? Why are their differences classic examples of conflict in drama? What other similarities and dissimilarities are there between the two characters?

(see the answer keys)

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