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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 story from the Bible causes Sinclair and Demian's eyes to meet?

2. What does Kromer demand from Sinclair?

3. Who does Sinclair want to confess to in this chapter?

4. Where does Sinclair have a troublesome meeting in the rain with Kromer?

5. Who did Sinclair steal the apples from?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Sinclair's hopes and ambitions at the beginning of the story?

2. How does Sinclair's life change for the better when Demian gets rid of Kromer?

3. How does Sinclair initially react when Demian gives his interpretation of Cain and Abel in chapter 2?

4. What does Sinclair's father say about Demian's interpretation of Cain and Abel?

5. How is Sinclair's dream about the sparrow hawk significant?

6. What are Sinclair's fears regarding Kromer and his family?

7. How does Sinclair become acquainted with the organist in chapter 5?

8. What stage has Sinclair reached in his life in chapter 1?

9. What dreadful event happens at the beginning of chapter 8?

10. How does Sinclair try to attract the girl he sees in the park in chapter 4?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why is Demian so important to Sinclair? What would have happened to Sinclair if he had not not met Demain? How can Sinclair put Demian's teaching into his own ideas?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Hesse use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character, examine the way Hesse uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

What was Sinclair's relationship with his father at the beginning of the book? Why does their relationship change so dramatically? In what way is their poor relationship affecting Sinclair in a bad way? In what ways does Sinclair need his father?

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