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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. He observes what in her eyes?

2. Whose story comprises most of the diary?

3. They were alone in the room together for a few moments and they exchanged what?

4. Johannes speculates on how interesting it would be if one could discern __________________ ahead of time.

5. Johannes admires her beauty again, particularly what?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the man do with the collection of letters from Cordelia?

2. How does Johannes treat Cordelia, as time goes on? Why does he treat her this way?

3. What takes place on the 15th and 16th?

4. What does Johannes learn on the 21st and 22nd?

5. How does May begin? What happens on the 5th and 6th?

6. What should be noted regarding the author and the characters in this story?

7. How does Johannes prepare to grow closer to Cordelia at this point?

8. How does Cordelia react to what Johannes has said to her? How does the description of the exhibition end?

9. How does the narrator feel about Cordelia?

10. What takes place on the 23rd?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Johannes has very calculated encounters with Cordelia.

Part 1) Describe these encounters. Why are they so calculated? Why does Johannes feel that he must know Cordelia's every move?

Part 2) What might this say about control and Johannes' need for control? Does he have control over the situation? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 3) How important is control in your own life? Can you relate to Johannes' need for control over others? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Johannes believes there are two stages in which a married woman is of interest.

Part 1) What are these two stages? Why does Johannes believe this? How does it affect his thoughts about Cordelia?

Part 2) What might this belief reveal about Johannes? Does it tie into his desire to seduce? If so, how? If not, why not?

Part 3) How do you feel about Johannes' belief about married women? Might this have been an common belief at the time in which this book was written? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Johannes describes love.

Part 1) How does he describe love? What does this description reveal about him? What might it reveal about the culture in which he lived?

Part 2) Do you believe that Johannes truly loves Cordelia? Why or why not? Does he ever grow to love her at any point in the story? If so, when and why? If not, why not?

Part 3) How would you describe love? How does your description compare to Johannes'?

(see the answer keys)

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