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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 is on the menu at the Steam Kitchen?

2. Where has Mr. Pettersen gone?

3. What does the narrator say his landlord does for a profession?

4. By what is the girl shocked when she comes up to the narrator in the street?

5. Who does the narrator think wakes him up the evening after sleeping by the church?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the narrator's worries about the word 'kuboaa'?

2. How do the policemen throughout the novel treat the narrator?

3. Why is the narrator interested in the newspaper-wrapped package of the old man?

4. Why does the narrator become annoyed with the old man?

5. Why does the narrator start crying?

6. Why is the narrator put into a reserved cell?

7. Why is the narrator glad when the stable-boy asks him for five kroner?

8. Why do the two shopkeepers refuse the narrator money?

9. What happens when the narrator angrily rings the bell of a random third-floor apartment?

10. How does the narrator view the red rocking chair when he decides to leave his apartment for good?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the significance of the meaning of 'kuboaa'. Why is the narrator afraid it might only mean yarn? What does this tell you about his self-regard?

Essay Topic 2

Hunger is written in the first person. Why do you think the author chose this voice? How do you think the effect of the book would be changed were the book written in the third person?

Essay Topic 3

How does the book reflect the naturalist style of 19th century literature? Was Knut Hamsun influenced by any 19th century authors or philosophers?

(see the answer keys)

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