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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 does she want him to promise?

2. What does he do when the nurse hands him a mirror?

3. What does Eliezer go on to say?

4. Why is Kathleen staying in a posh hotel in New York City?

5. How long has it been since the accident?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Kathleen ask the protagonist? What is his response?

2. What does Kathleen say, one night when they are in bed together?

3. What do the doctor and the protagonist say about the river?

4. Describe the protagonist's story about his teacher.

5. What is Kathleen's response to this story?

6. How do Kathleen and the protagonist feel about one another?

7. What has happened to Kathleen?

8. How has this traumatic experience affected the girl?

9. Why is the protagonist not able to make love to the girl?

10. How does the protagonist respond to the woman's request?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout this novel, the protagonist moves in and out of time.

Part 1) Give two examples of this. What is the purpose of this?

Part 2) How does this affect his relationship with others?

Part 3) Is this effective in showing the inner workings of the protagonist's mind? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

When lying on the ground, the protagonist is reminded of a poem by Dylan Thomas that says, "rage, rage, against the dying of the light."

Part 1) Why might he think of this poem?

Part 2) How does this contrast with his actions and feelings?

Part 3) How does this poem reflect the beliefs of others in the play?

Essay Topic 3

Dr. Paul Russel is a pivotal character in the story.

Part 1) Why is he a pivotal character?

Part 2) How does the protagonist interact with him? Why?

Part 3) How, in a sense, are the doctor/patient roles reversed?

(see the answer keys)

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