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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 group of people do Horacio and Etienne watch while they wait to see Morelli in Chapter 155?

2. What final instructions does Cortazar give for the end of the book?

3. What Eastern tradition is Morelli drawing from in Chapter 95?

4. In Chapter 98, what does Horacio realize that Maga never needed to do?

5. According to Gabio Basso in Chapter 148, the root of the word person originally meant what?

Short Essay Questions

1. Professionally, what changes for Traveler, Horacio and Talita in this section?

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

3. Who is Pola, and how does she know Horacio?

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

5. Describe Horacio's dream in Chapter 100.

6. Why is the Morelli argument in Chapter 99 a relief to Horacio?

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

8. How does Traveler's codependency with Horacio manifest itself in this section?

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

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

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 novel of HOPSCOTCH is largely a novel about ideas and flights of bohemian fancy, but existent above and below the would-be sweet life of the narrative is the omnipresent specter of death. Write an essay about death in the novel, focusing on three instances of it. How do the characters struggle and strive to ignore mortality in the novel? How does every instance of it in the narrative seem to shatter some delicate balance? What is destroyed by it?

Part 1) Rocamadour

Part 2) Pola

Part 3) The end of the novel.

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?

(see the answer keys)

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