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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. By what is the narrator hit?

2. What kind of cake does the narrator take from the seller's table?

3. On which floor is the narrator's guest room in the Food and Lodging for Travellers?

4. Where does the narrator recognize the cake-seller working?

5. Where does the narrator pass as he walks home from stealing a cab ride?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the narrator not speak to the woman in black when he first sees her outside his apartment?

2. What happens when the narrator goes to the grocer's to ask for a candle on credit?

3. What happens to the narrator that makes him aware of his mental sluggishness?

4. How does Queeny offend the narrator?

5. How does Queeny say he knows Ylayali?

6. Why is the captain of the Copégoro reluctant to hire the narrator, and what is his compromise?

7. What convinces the narrator that he is sane?

8. Where does the narrator decide to live?

9. How does the narrator react to seeing Ylayali with 'The Duke'?

10. Why does the narrator not eat all of his cakes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the values of the late 1800s. In what way are the characters products of their time? Does the book express the changes in either Norway or America at the time?

Essay Topic 3

Towards the end of the novel, desecration becomes a central theme, both in the narrator's thoughts and in events. Discuss the symbolism used by Knut Hamsun. Is the final desecration of his pride an inevitable conclusion to the novel? What do you think are the author's opinions on this pride?

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