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

2. What film does Charlie discover has been made without authorization?

3. Who does Charlie pay a visit to?

4. What happens to Roger while in Madrid?

5. How much does Charlie tell Renata he earned for his Trenck movie rights?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What is Charlie hoping to receive as he has now lived at the pension with Roger for ten weeks?

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

4. What are Renata's opinions about Charlie's thoughts about death?

5. Why does Naomi beg George to take her son with him to Africa?

6. What is the state of Charlie's life and state of mind in Section 16 as he lives in Madrid?

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

8. Why does Charlie begin to cry while watching the film in Paris with Rinaldo?

9. What happens to Corcoran's outlook when he repeats his romantic trip with his wife?

10. How does Charlie explain his relationship with Roger to people abroad?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast these characters: Von Humboldt Fleisher and Charlie Citrine.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Renata makes it clear to Charlie that he thinks too much about death. In what ways does Charlie feel Renata also has a deep connection with death?

(see the answer keys)

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