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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 arranges for Renata and Charlie to get together at a subway bar?

2. Who is the poker game at George's house organized around?

3. According to Judge Urbanovich, what is Charlie's problem in this case?

4. What is the title of of Von Humboldt Fleisher's book of ballads?

5. What ultimately happens to Humboldt's chair position at Princeton?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Humboldt tell Charlie that he wants Adlai Stevenson to win the election over Eisenhower?

2. When Judge Urbanovich questions Charlie about his frequent trips to Europe, what does Charlie come to realize about Chicago and the judge?

3. How does Charlie come to be blamed for Humboldt's admittance to Bellevue?

4. How has Cantabile's attitude towards Charlie changed?

5. Why does George dislike Dick Durnwald?

6. Why does Charlie believe Americans have trouble keeping secrets?

7. Humboldt used to accuse Charlie of trying to spend his whole life in the upper stories of higher consciousness. What is Humboldt's definition of higher consciousness?

8. How does Cantabile make it clear to Charlie that he thinks he is vain?

9. What is the difference between Charlie's ex-wife, Denise, and his new girlfriend, Renata?

10. According to Humboldt, what is the only art intellectuals can be interested in?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In one of Charlie's conversations with Dr. Scheldt, he says, "Death is the dark backing that a mirror needs if we are to see anything."

What is the meaning of this statement?

How does the comparison of death and a mirror have special meaning to Charlie?

Essay Topic 2

Alone in his room in Madrid while Roger is at school, Charlie meditates. How is he coming to terms with being a middle-aged man with no woman in his life and no money?

Essay Topic 3

How is the character of Renata developed in Section 12?

What characteristics does the author layer on her to make her a more sympathetic character?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 964 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample