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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 type of ideals does Morris have?

2. How does Ida refer to Frank?

3. How much money does Carl owe Morris?

4. What does Morris spend hours dreaming of?

5. Who smelled the gas first?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Morris react when Frank tells him the truth about the hold-up?

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

3. How does Morris nearly die? Who saves him?

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

5. What arrangement does Karp propose to Morris?

6. What plans does Helen have if she and Frank get married?

7. How are Helen's feelings for Frank changing?

8. How does Frank feel about his actions? What did he do to Helen?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write an essay on the role of the family provider. Be sure to address:

1) Changing trends in family providers, including gender roles, state involvement, and so on.

2) How being a family provider is dealt with in THE ASSISTANT, and the issues characters face in regards to being a provider.

3) Important characteristics and personality traits of a good family provider.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay on the death of Morris Bober. Be sure to address:

1) Why you feel the author decided to 'kill off' Morris.

2) The message and meaning behind Morris' death.

3) The importance of the timing of Morris' death.

4) How Morris' death affected you personally as a reader.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay that critically reviews THE ASSISTANT by Bernard Malamud, in a formal book review style. Be sure to address:

1) Major themes of the novel and how well they are communicated to readers.

2) Your opinion on the writing style used by the author.

3) The universal importance of the book's subject matter.

(see the answer keys)

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