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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 Aschenbach think the benefit of a vacation will be?

2. How many times has Aschenbach been divorced?

3. What is Aschenbach's financial situation?

4. Usually Aschenbach feels ________ at his summer house.

5. What does Aschenbach chronically suffer from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What was Aschenbach's home-life and education like?

2. In Aschenbach's mind, Tadzio beckons Aschenbach to the water before Aschenbach dies. What does this say about Tadzio's real purpose?

3. What does the dream that Aschenbach has add to how the reader sees his transformation?

4. What does the narrator speculate is the reason for Aschenbach's failure to approach Tadzio?

5. What are some of the main tones and themes of Part One?

6. What does Aschenbach's reluctance of his daydream say about the strength his usual mind-set has over him? What does this hold for the future?

7. What is the daydream Aschenbach has after being inspired to travel? How does this further his desire to travel?

8. Does Aschenbach look at Tadzio analytically or with glorification?

9. How does Aschenbach's vision of Socrates and Phaedrus translate to him and Tadzio?

10. What inspires Aschenbach to travel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tadzio is the most pivotal figure in Aschenbach's life during the time of "Death In Venice." Throughout the book he takes on many different roles. What is the greater purpose of Tadzio's representation?

Essay Topic 2

In what way do other characters steer Aschenbach? What does this say about Aschenbach and his mind, since his direct interactions are either brief or silent?

Essay Topic 3

In "Death In Venice," Mann uses colors to give dimension to characters and to represent themes. Write an essay discussing Mann's use of reoccurring colors to represent the themes and flesh out characters. What do these colors represent? When does Mann chose to use color? How can the development of the story and the transformation of Aschenbach be traced through color?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 884 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample