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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 kind of business does Frank Tigler own?

2. When Humboldt calls Charlie at the Bellasco Theatre from Bellvue, what does he want?

3. What does Cantabile ultimately do with most of the money Charlie gives him?

4. What does Humboldt think he and Charlie should do in light of the new US administration?

5. Who does Cantabile bring with him to visit Charlie?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Why does Charlie continue to have a relationship with Pierre Thaxter?

3. Humboldt cashes in Charlie's "blood-brother" check. How is this done at a very bad time in Charlie's life?

4. 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?

5. How do Charlie and Renata first get together?

6. What is Humboldt's reaction when Charlie tells him that the Chair, Ricketts, cannot give Humboldt a Poetry Chair because of budgetary reasons?

7. How is Humboldt acting towards Kathleen after he loses the poetry chair at Princeton?

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

9. How does Denise keep up-to-date on world news to prepare for a cultural evening at the White House?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Denise is Charlie's ex-wife. When explaining her feelings about Charlie's oldest friend, George Swiebel, she says, "George Swiebel is your billy goat." Explain what Denise meant by this statement and how it relates to Charlie.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,060 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample