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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 makes a speech about it being a momentous night in Chapter 96?

2. What is interspersed with the lines of Maga's book in Chapter 34?

3. In Chapter 78, what is Horacio convinced about the Travelers' marriage?

4. Which two characters arrive at Morelli's flat in Chapter 91?

5. In Chapter 43, what does Talita reveal about Traveler's strained state of mind?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Horacio's state of mind in this section?

2. What is revolutionary about Morelli's forthcoming book?

3. In Chapter 56, how does Horacio protect himself after he kisses Talita?

4. What does Horacio do before coming to Buenos Aires?

5. How does Horacio settle in Buenos Aires in this section?

6. Describe the argument that Ossip and Horacio have in this section.

7. What dream does Horacio have in Chapter 123, and what does Etienne take from it?

8. Why are Etienne and Horacio shocked when they get to the old writers room in Chapter in 154?

9. How is Traveler affected by Horacio in this section?

10. How is the prose style of Chapter 34 unusual?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the millenary kingdom? Write an essay about this prelapsarian concept, where it comes from, and how it connects thematically with the events of the novel. What does the millenary kingdom mean to both Morelli and Horacio? Why do Etienne and Ronald think that La Maga had some innate connection to it? How is the entire Serpent Club, to some extent, existing in its own millenary kingdom until Rocamadour dies? How does this death force them all to face harsh realities? Conclude the essay by discussing whether the millenary kingdom is seen as a positive or negative thing.

Essay Topic 2

HOPSCOTCH takes place in two large but intensely disparate cities: Paris and Buenos Aires. These two settings, and Horacio's attitude toward them, create two divergent tones within the novel. Write an essay about these two settings:

Part 1) What observations about the intellectual life in Paris does Horacio make at the beginning of the novel? How does this observation typify his attitude toward it as a setting? Write a paragraph noting several characters, locations and groups that represent the Paris of the novel.

Part 2) How is Buenos Aires markedly different from Paris in HOPSCOTCH? What is the tone of this setting, based upon the weather, the social gatherings, and the way in which Horacio must live in both? How is Buenos Aires more whimsical?

Part 3) Noting the differences between Paris and Buenos Aires above, write a summation paragraph discussing how the transition between the two locations indicates a shift in Horacio. What is the nature of this shift, and how does it affect him emotionally?

Essay Topic 3

Horacio Oliveira is a callous, self-involved, deeply-jealous individual. He is, however, the novel's protagonist, and Cortazar reveals both his flaws and virtues through a series of foils. Write an essay about three of these foils. How does Horacio know each of them? What is the nature of the conflict that exists between him and each foil? What does this conflict reveal about both Horacio and the foil?

Part 1) La Maga

Part 2) Ossip Gregorovius

Part 3) Manolo Traveler

(see the answer keys)

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