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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. ____________ vows on Alberto's grave that Claudia's mother and brothers will be found.

2. Who goes down to meet a lone officer of the Republican troops?

3. A girl on the crowded train diverts the Nazi soldiers' attention as a ____________ slides under the train seats.

4. Mirella is convinced that Hitler harbors an atypical __________.

5. What does Renzo NOT go into the town to do after the war is declared to be over?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Renzo do once he realizes he has no one to live for now that the war is over?

2. By August, what is Renzo able to do after his injury?

3. What makes the German soldiers stop looking through the laundry basket Claudia Cicala is carrying?

4. Who is Osvaldo now driving a car for?

5. What is the holiday that the United States and the Germans had hoped to meet in terms of ending the war?

6. What does Maria Avoni teach Simon Henley about as she takes him to his first camp?

7. What are being dropped from the sky, causing rumors to ravage Italy?

8. What are Renzo and Schramm supervising together?

9. What was the real story behind the raping of the girl by the six German soldiers?

10. What does Battista threaten Leto with when he tells him to tell the Germans who killed the five soliders?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many people who read this novel have different reactions to each of the characters, emotional reactions. While this might be absolutely valid, it also seems to color the experience of the reader.

Part 1: What is the reaction you feel when you read about Renzo?

Part 2: What is the reaction you have when you read about the character of Schramm?

Part 3: How does the emotional response to a character affect the way a reader experiences a character? Or doesn't it?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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