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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. Aschenbach keep his beard _________.

2. What is Aschenbach's financial situation?

3. When does "Death In Venice" take place?

4. What happens in Aschenbach's daydream?

5. Aschenbach's mother is from ________.

Short Essay Questions

1. What were Aschenbach's parent's professions and how have they influenced Achenbach?

2. Why does Aschenbach decide to go to Venice?

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

4. What about Tadzio does Aschenbach use for his writing? How does Aschenbach feel about writing this way?

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

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

7. What are the physical attributes of the strange man Aschenbach encounters at the chapel?

8. What about the Polish family in the hotel catches Aschenbach's eye?

9. What happened to Aschenbach's wife? What is his family situation now?

10. 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?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Venice serves more significance to the story than being a simple stage.

1) What does Venice represent?

2) What do Venetians represent? What is a common characteristic of Venetians?

3) Why is Venice an effective stage for this story?

Essay Topic 2

What is the symbolic and metaphorical significance of "the beach?" What purpose does it play other than a stage? What does it represent about Aschenbach's trip, transformation, and emotional and mental state?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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