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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. After Frank and Helen's first kiss, what does Helen do when Frank is not looking?

2. In what place does Frank seem surer of himself?

3. What material does the skinny man demonstrate for Morris?

4. What type of ideals does Morris have?

5. What is Morris sick with?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Helen feel about Frank not being Jewish?

2. What goes through Morris' mind as he lies in bed?

3. How does business at the store change? What does Frank do to try and help it?

4. Describe Helen and Frank's first kiss.

5. What is the skinny man's proposition? What does Morris do?

6. What did Charlie Sobeloff do to Morris?

7. How does Helen feel about her father's funeral, and his life?

8. What happens when Helen goes to meet Frank to tell him that she loves him?

9. What thoughts are troubling Morris at the beginning of the chapter?

10. Describe Helen and Frank's arguments about sex, and how they are resolved.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay describing the process of bankruptcy in your country. Be sure to address:

1) The history of bankruptcy and origins of the word.

2) The basic process of bankruptcy for a small or large business.

3) How Morris Bober viewed the threat of bankruptcy, whether or not he considered it an option, and why.

4) The current bankruptcy rate in your country, and the main factors behind the statistics.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the life choices made by character in THE ASSISTANT. Be sure to address:

1) Themes and examples of regret and missed opportunities.

2) Examples of good and bad life choices made by characters in the novel.

3) The message you feel Bernard Malamud is communicating to readers regarding life choices.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay on the use of dreams and dream sequences in THE ASSISTANT. Be sure to address:

1) The role of dreams in the novel.

2) Examples of how dreams have influenced characters and foreshadowed events.

3) What you feel the role of dreams are in our everyday lives.

(see the answer keys)

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