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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 does Casaubon discover, when reading the files he prints out from Belbo's computer?

2. What do Casaubon, Diotallevi and Belbo want to to do with the stories created by Abulafia?

3. Where do Belbo and Lorenza go while Casaubon is on vacation?

4. Which is NOT a meeting place of the Templars, according to Casaubon's interpretation of the parchment?

5. What does the computer's output suggest about the crucifixion of Christ?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to Belbo after receiving the last piece of the Plan from Salon?

2. What does Belbo say about the believability of the Plan, in Chapter 100?

3. What does the group of cloaked individuals want with Belbo?

4. Casaubon believes that John Dee played what role in the disruption of the Templars' line of communication?

5. What happens to Casaubon at the end of the novel?

6. What deduction do Casaubon and his group make about the Pendulum's purpose, in Chapter 99?

7. What does Casaubon do after the night at the Conservatoire?

8. What is the final piece of information for the Plan, supplied by Salon?

9. Why does Casaubon include a group not related to the Freemasons when constructing his time line?

10. What experiment does Casaubon want to conduct with Abulafia?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Anti-Semitic theories abound in the novel, as well as throughout history. Why are the Jews so commonly presented as villains in religious, historical and occult traditions and stories? How does Casaubon feel about them? What about Diotallevi? What role do they play in the Plan, and why? At what point do the characters' attitudes regarding the Jews' participation in the conspiracy change, and why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Casaubon misses out on a lot of time with his wife and child as a result of his occult studies, despite the fact that his wife constantly tries to bring him back to them. Why does he prefer the Plan and other students of the occult to his own family? What is he seeking, that is so important? What sacrifices does he make, during his search for truth, and how do his sacrifices affect his family? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Diotallevi tells Belbo they made a mistake in devising the Plan, clearly believing that his own declining health is due to his involvement in it; Belbo is murdered because of it. Have there been other times when the pursuit of occult knowledge has led to someone's downfall? What was the reason for it? Do you think Diotallevi still would have fallen ill and died if it were not for his involvement in the Plan, or is he reading too much into his illness and death, as he and the others did with believing that the fictional Plan was true? Why? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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