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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. In Chapter 109, how does Morelli say he tells a character's story?

2. What political movement is Etienne working with in Chapter 90?

3. What does the narrator recall at the end of Chapter 93?

4. Which philosopher does Horacio cite in his ruminations of Chapter 3?

5. Which of the following characters stays with Maga at the end of Chapter 28?

Short Essay Questions

1. What event is taking place in this section?

2. In Chapter 26, what reason does Ossip offer for Horacio's leaving?

3. What is Rocamadour's place in La Maga and Horacio's relationship?

4. When does Chapter 7 appear to take place, and why?

5. What is Ossip's diagnosis of Horacio in Chapter 16?

6. What is Horacio's goal for living in Paris?

7. What is Horacio doing in the Ponts des Arts in Chapter 1?

8. How does Horacio meet Berthe Trepat?

9. What criticism does Maga make of Horacio at the end of Chapter 3?

10. How does Wong's torture photos affect Horatio's mood for the worse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The fictional guru of Cortazar's Hopscotch is the iconoclast writer Morelli. Morelli at once represents a lofty literary ideal and stands in for Cortazar himself. Write an essay about the character of Morelli, focusing on three parts:

Part 1) Most of Morelli's texts have to do with destroying old literary conventions rather than creating new ones. What conventions does he most pointedly insist be destroyed? Why does he dislike them so intently? How does he think they mar literature?

Part 2) Morelli speaks often in the novel about literature being a surrogate experience. What does this mean? How does Morelli want the reader to relate to the novel? What particularly provocative ideas does Morelli have for achieving this?

Part 3) How is Morelli a fictional stand-in for Julio Cortazar? How are Cortazar's ideas similar to Morelli's? To what extent is Morelli, when the reader meets him in the expendable chapters, writing the novel HOPSCOTCH?

Essay Topic 2

Ossip Gregorovius and Horacio Oliveira are at odds with each other for the entirety of the first book of the novel. Write an essay about their rivalry as it relates both to dominance in the Serpent Club and the affections of La Maga. What about Ossip disgusts Horacio and vice versa? How is Ossip able to play toward Horacio's weaknesses as events conspire to deflate Horacio? What indication is there that Ossip actually has an affair with Maga? In summation, discuss what final critique Ossip makes of Horacio after Maga has disappeared.

Essay Topic 3

Much of the conflict in Cortazar's novel centers around Horacio's relationships with various women. These relationships are tinted with contention, passion, and eventual tragedy. Write an essay about three such involvements:

Part 1) How is Horacio's involvement with La Maga the central relationship of the novel? What does La Maga represent that is so at odd with Horacio's worldview, and how does this conflict manifest itself? Discuss the tragedy that occurs in Book 1 that drives the two apart irrevocably.

Part 2) What is the nature of Horacio's affair with Pola? What aspects of her personality and background make her a compelling alternative to La Maga? Write an essay about their brief affair and the tragedy that ends it.

Part 3) Why does Horacio kiss Talita at the end of the novel? Has there been any indication that he is attracted to her heretofore? Write an essay about Horacio's relationship with Talita and how it reflects a slow and subtle disassociation with reality. What is the fallout of the kiss?

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