View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the narrator's explanation of such a short life in the "3 June 1905" dream?

2. How old is the young woman, in the "15 June 190" dream, when she finally stops her travel into the future?

3. When does Besso remember looking like Einstein as he is now (second Interlude)?

4. What do all of the people of the world described in the "9 June 1905" dream have in common?

5. What happens to the people in the world, described in the "10 June 1905" dream, who attempt to quantify time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What has the young woman at no. 27 Viktoriastrasse missed in her life because of the sudden thrust into the future?

2. What options do people have when it comes to reading their Book of Life?

3. Describe the life of a "Now."

4. In the 22 May 1905 dream, what happens for those who have not seen a glimpse of their future yet?

5. Describe the way that time is experienced in the 5 June 1905 dream.

6. Why have some inhabitants of the 29 May 1905 world become frustrated and despondent?

7. How does the narrator describe the phenomenon of people only living one day in the 3 June 1905 dream?

8. Why does the man at the graveside refuse to weep for his deceased friend?

9. In the second Interlude, to what does Besso compare Einstein's present health?

10. What is the biggest problem associated with living in the 20 May 1905 world?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the formatting of the novel. Choose one of the following prompts discussing the formatting of the novel:

- Were you confused by the dates of the chapters and the meaning behind them?

- When did you realize the chapters were describing dreams and not realities for the novel?

- Why do you believe that readers are not given more information on Einstein himself about the movement of the novel?

- Do you think that this adds to the flow of the novel or hinders the flow of it?

- What relevance does Besso play in the novel?

- Why does the reader see more of his thoughts than Einstein's?

Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the relationship between Einstein and Besso. Who do you think the relationship is more important to? Why? Who do you think the relationship is more taxing on? Why? Is the relationship relevant to the understanding of the novel? Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Great Clock. What problems are associated with placing all trust in a manmade object? What are the benefits associated with placing all trust in a synthetic object? Would you choose to place you life in the motion of the clock or not? Why? Cite specific examples from the text to support your responses.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,075 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample