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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 person of the Bible also spoke with a "halt of tongue" according to Leto?

2. What does Mirella try to finagle from the public official, Serafino Brizzolari?

3. Who was impregnated by her uncle and then she eventually married him?

4. What is Osvaldo unable to do when he hears the confession of Schramm?

5. Where does Schramm finally lie down in order to begin to recuperate from his illness?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why had Renzo Leoni been waiting at the church when he met Schramm?

2. What do Hermann and Duno Brossler fight over that causes Duno to be slapped?

3. Describe the former life of the Brosslers.

4. What might it take to help Schramm heal from his tuberculosis?

5. What was the horrible event that happened to Klara Hitler which led to her immaculate home?

6. What does Schramm understand now that he sees how life really is rather than how it is portrayed by artists?

7. Why does Werner think his mother committed suicide?

8. How does Schramm travel through German checkpoints?

9. How does Werner Schramm compare war to misdiagnosed tuberculosis?

10. What does Tomitz come to tell those at the Rabbi's house?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The character of Mirella is confusing at times.

Part 1: Describe the character of Mirella.

Part 2: Why do you think Mirella decides to marry Iacopo?

Part 3: What does the character of Mirella seem to say about women during this time?

Essay Topic 2

Von Thadden seems to believe that what he is doing is right for the world, releasing all guilt from his conscience.

Part 1: Why doesn't von Thadden think what he is doing is wrong?

Part 2: What makes von Thadden more of a complicated character than he appears?

Part 3: What is your emotional reaction to von Thadden? Why?

Essay Topic 3

What's most interesting about this novel is the contradiction in beliefs and in the results of those beliefs. For example, Schramm is guilty of horrible things, but so is Renzo.

Part 1: What are Schramm's crimes within this novel and before the time of the novel?

Part 2: What are Renzo's crimes within this novel?

Part 3: How are these characters to be compared in terms of their guilt? Is one character more guiltier than the other? Why? Why not?

(see the answer keys)

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