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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. How aware is Aschenbach of his own mortality?

2. Lately, Aschenbach has had a difficult time _________.

3. What do Aschenbach's books represent?

4. What makes Aschenbach pull back from his daydream?

5. How does Aschenbach hide his loneliness?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Aschenbach is more and more obsessed with Tadzio, how does Aschenbach's writing now differ from before?

2. How does Venice reflect Aschenbach's mental state?

3. Why is Aschenbach comforted by the idea of a quarantine?

4. Why does Aschenbach return to the chapel? What is he hoping for?

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

6. How does Aschenbach draw back from his daydream?

7. How is the street performer similar to the man Aschenbach sees at the chapel in Part One? How is he similar to other men Aschenbach has seen throughout "Death In Venice?"

8. What effect did Aschenbach's parents' attributes have on him?

9. Why does Aschenbach decide to leave Venice? Why is this a typical response for him to have?

10. When does Aschenbach arrive in Pola? Why does he leave Pola?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Aschenbach severely disapproves of any falsehood or disguise.

1) Why does he object to this so much?

2) What do falsehood and disguise symbolize to him?

3) What does it mean when Aschenbach begins wearing a disguise himself?

Essay Topic 2

Aschenbach has a complex relationship with "youth" in "Death In Venice."

1) What is Aschenbach's relationship to youth early in the book?

2) How does Aschenbach run parallel to youth throughout the book?

3) How do Aschenbach and youth intersect in "Death In Venice?"

4) How does death play a role in Aschenbach's relationship to youth?

Essay Topic 3

What statement is "Death In Venice" making about art?

(see the answer keys)

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