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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. Where does Cantabile want Charlie to go with him once they meet in the street outside the Baths?

2. What does Renata think of Cantabile's suggestion that he rub out Denise for Charlie?

3. Where does Humboldt refuse to go and lecture in 1952?

4. What is Charlie's original family name?

5. How does Frank Tigler die?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Charlie is being told by Judge Urbanovich that he cannot be allowed to dabble in the middle class and then drop out, how does Charlie react?

2. Why does Charlie think of the Mozartian Italian Denise likes, "Tutto tutto gia si sa" (Everything, everything about me was known)?

3. Charlie Citrine, as an elderly man, looks for something along the curbs in Chicago. What does he search for and why?

4. What does Humboldt believe Kathleen's father did to her to keep her away from Humboldt?

5. What does Charlie think Cantabile's rank and place in the organized crime world is?

6. Charlie plays racquetball with Vito LangobardiIn, a big-time hoodlum. In what way is Charlie attached to Vito?

7. How do Charlie and Renata first get together?

8. When Charlie returns to Chicago after ignoring Humboldt on the streets of New York, he tells Denise about the incident. What, in his story about being on the helicopter with Dr. Longstaff from the old days, is ironic?

9. In what way is Scaccia, the detective, blackmailing Charlie?

10. How does Humboldt end up getting over six thousand dollars from Charlie after Charlie has a successful Broadway show?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In one conversation Charlie remembers having with Professor Scheldt, they discuss Steiner. Charlie wants to be sure he understands the notion that thought in his head is also thought in the external world. He remembers the theory being that consciousness in the self creates a false distinction between object and matter.

As an example, how does Charlie compare the physical body to the spirit, leading to death?

Essay Topic 2

It becomes clear in the story that Renata is a plus for Charlie in many ways. What are Renata's attributes that are especially good for Charlie?

Essay Topic 3

Consider Humboldt's Treatment that he left to Charlie.

1) What, if anything, might Charlie learn about himself from this story?

2) Why would Charlie think Humboldt wrote this story for him? Is it about the money?

(see the answer keys)

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