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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. For what does Ylayali reach that tells the narrator she wants him to leave?

2. How does Ylayali hide her shyness at her opened corset?

3. Of which room is the landlord peeking through the keyhole?

4. What is the weather like on the morning of the narrator's date with Ylayali?

5. What does the sailor say they need?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when the narrator is finally kicked out?

2. Why is the narrator moved into the family room?

3. What happens to make the narrator lose faith in his play?

4. How does the narrator act towards Ylayali once they are upstairs?

5. Why do Ylayali and the narrator go up to her apartment?

6. Why exactly does the narrator refuse the Chief's offer of an advance?

7. How does the narrator dodge the street whore's invitation?

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

9. How does Queeny offend the narrator?

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 narrator's pride doom him to failure? What does his working on a ship at the end of the novel show about his pride? What devices does Knut Hamsun use to explore the narrator's pride?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Fantasy plays a large role in this novel. Discuss the narrator and Ylayali's fantasies of one another. How do they differ from reality? How do you think they affect the character's actions?

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