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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 does Charlie run into during intermission at the Christmas Pageant?

2. What does Charlie buy on Wacker Drive?

3. What is Pierre's reason for not yet publishing an issue of The Ark?

4. Why is it that Corcoran feels at first that he cannot publish his book?

5. Where does Charlie get the money to pay for the $200,000 bond?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to Humboldt's letter to Charlie, why does Charlie figure so prominently in his obsessions?

2. What thoughts does Charlie have during the intermission of a Christmas Pageant he is attending with his children?

3. Why does Charlie fail to say anything when Renata tells him the operator at the Plaza called her Mrs. Citrine?

4. What does Renata think will happen to Charlie if he goes to Texas to see Julius?

5. How does Charlie's theory that some people have no use for their gifts and can think only of overcoming their weaknesses apply to Charlie and Humboldt?

6. How does the reader come to realize how close Humboldt must have felt towards Uncle Waldemar?

7. How does Corcoran in the "Treatment" end up losing even though his book is a great success?

8. When Charlie offers to put up the ransom for the return of Pierre, how does he expect to be repaid?

9. Why does Charlie believe that he cannot ask Renata to accompany him and the two older men from the nursing home out to lunch?

10. Why does Charlie feel compelled to continue the work of the dead?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Charlie meets Cantabile at the Russian Baths, Cantabile intends to either hurt or humiliate Charlie. At the end of this section, Cantabile takes a different approach with Charlie.

Has Cantabile's need for Charlie's help changed his relationship with him?

What does Cantabile expect from Charlie in terms of a social relationship of any kind?

Should Charlie, in your opinion, acquiesce and help him?

Essay Topic 2

Charlie's brother, Julius, is about to undergo heart surgery. He is seen as being very overweight and a keen businessman.

Compare Julius to Humboldt. Also compare their relationships with Charlie.

Essay Topic 3

Seeing Section 8 as an allegory of the struggle between the creatively motivated artist and a materialist social order, what is Charlie's great sin--the one that is likely to cost him his livelihood?

What is Charlie's worth as seen by society?

Consider all that has occurred in the judge's chambers.

(see the answer keys)

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