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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. What is the name of the cousin Christopher befriends?

2. Christopher refers to his series of vignettes as a:

3. Christopher is certainly a person that supports which culture?

4. What is the name of the narrator?

5. Christopher talks about being fearful during which incident?

Short Essay Questions

1. When do the events in Section five take place? What is the basis of the vignette?

2. What is the subtitle to this section? When and where do the events take place?

3. What events lead up to the first problems with Sally and Christopher?

4. What are Christopher's final thoughts on the events of the past several years?

5. What was Christopher's reaction to being flirted with by two of the three ill women at the sanitarium?

6. What is the purpose of Christopher's trip to Ruegen Island? Where does he stay while on the island?

7. What happens to Bernard at the end of the story? What does it really mean?

8. How does the author describe Peter and Otto?

9. Peter shows several instances of mental illness. Describe the illness and what Peter has chosen to do about it.

10. With which two family members does Christopher seem to connect with the most?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

It is obvious that many of the characters in the book are homosexual or bisexual, although that precise word is never used. Why do you think Isherwood made many references to this behavior but avoided using any explicit reference to homosexuality and bisexuality? Cite various passages in the text that show a character's sexuality and discuss how it is referenced by Isherwood. Is Isherwood bisexual or homosexual? How do you know?

Essay Topic 2

Many of the characters in both novellas seem to be transient, moving from place to place, almost at the drop of a hat. Why do you think it was popular to move in with another person or family, even if you had just met? Why did Christopher choose to move in with the Nowaks? Was it common practice or something that was related to the time period and/or the atmosphere of Berlin?

Essay Topic 3

Bradshaw and Norris meet on a train on their way to Berlin. The train is often used as a mode of transportation in literature. Why do you think the train has such a reputation as a meeting place in literature? Name at least three other stories or books that begin with characters meeting for the first time on a train. Do you think that the characters can get to know each other well in such a short period of time? Would the same story evolve if the characters had met on an airplane or bus? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

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