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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. Who injures Aglie during the ceremony at the Conservatoire?

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. Where is John Dee's alleged meeting with the mystics?

5. Why does Casaubon think the parchment was written?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lia try to explain to Casaubon, in Chapter 63?

2. What conclusion does Belbo reach, regarding Francis Bacon, in the Plan?

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

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

5. What happens to Diotallevi in Chapter 101?

6. What does Aglie tell Casaubon's group about the Freemasons?

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

8. What do Salon and Casaubon talk about when Casaubon visits Salon in his shop?

9. What was Napoleon's role in the Jesuit-Templar conflict?

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

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

Belbo believes that the Plan is more believable, because of the bizarre nature of the story. Why does he feel that way? To what genre of literature does he compare real life, and why? What does the Plan have in common with real life, according to Belbo? Do you agree with his assessment? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

The women in Casaubon's life have a great impact on him, and affect his search for knowledge in various ways. What is Amparo's background, and how does she feel about the occult? What does Casaubon learn from her? What is Lia's outlook on Casaubon's occult activities? What does Casaubon learn from her? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

(see the answer keys)

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