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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 mythical creature do Maga and Horacio playfully turn each other into in Chapter 7?

2. What famous American litigator is quoted in Chapter 117?

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

4. Who is the narrator of Chapter 93?

5. How is Ossip occupied in Chapter 11?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Horacio choose not to help Etienne in Chapter 90?

2. Why are Maga and Horacio so affected by the fish in Chapter 8?

3. What conversation regarding their relationship do Maga and Horacio have in Chapter 20?

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

5. Describe Ossip Gregorovius.

6. What is Maga doing when Horacio arrives in Chapter 28?

7. How do Maga and Horacio view the meaning of their precarious dates differently in Chapter 6?

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

9. What event is taking place in this section?

10. What is the Club's Principle problem with the theories of Morelli, as stated in Chapter 141?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Julio Cortazar juxtaposed two couples in the novel: Horacio and La Maga, and Manolo and Talita Traveler. Write an essay comparing and contrasting these couples and exploring how the author juxtaposes them. How do both intensely doubt the validity of their love? What is their reason for feeling this way? Which seems to be the stronger couple? In summation, why do you think one relationship survives and the other falls apart?

Essay Topic 2

The second book of HOPSCOTCH deals primarily with the pained triangle that develops between the Travelers and Horacio. Write an essay about this triangle, assessing what each participant gains and risks from it. How does Manolo Traveler begin to deteriorate mentally and emotionally after Horacio arrives in Buenos Aires? Discuss why this is, and why he insists on keeping Horatio close. How is Talita affected by this codependency and how does this manifest itself in the events of Book 2? In summation, to what climax does all the fretting of this triangle lead?

Essay Topic 3

The novel of HOPSCOTCH consists of three books: two main narrative books and one compilation of chapters sometimes called "expendable." Write an essay about these expendable chapters, what they contain, and how reading them is essential to understanding the full narrative of the novel. Focus on three components of the story that only appear in the third book. What does having this information do to inform what is told in the first two books? Which characters does it illuminate? Why do you think this only exists in expendable chapters?

Part 1) The affair with Pola.

Part 2) Morelliana

Part 3) The hospital meeting with Morelli

(see the answer keys)

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