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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 many children does Aschenbach have?

2. What characterized Aschenbach in his youth?

3. In Part Two, Aschenbach no longer feels _____ with his work.

4. What characterizes Aschenbach's daydream?

5. What do Aschenbach's books represent?

Short Essay Questions

1. How would you compare Aschenbach as a youth to the Aschenbach we meet in the beginning of the book?

2. As the end of "Death In Venice" nears, is Aschenbach trying to disguise his feeling for Tadzio? In its place, what is the other costume he wears now?

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

4. What does Aschenbach believe is heroic? How does this aid his writing?

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

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

7. What inspires Aschenbach to travel?

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

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

10. How much of Part One is either unspoken or indirect direction?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

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)

This section contains 846 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample