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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 does the landlord say is wrong with the old man?

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

3. On what does the narrator jump in despair?

4. How does the narrator see Ylayali when she reaches her hand out to him as he leaves?

5. Where does the narrator suggest to go with Ylayali?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Queeny offend the narrator?

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

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

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

5. Where does the narrator decide to live?

6. What convinces the narrator that he is sane?

7. How does Queeny say he knows Ylayali?

8. Who lives in the family room?

9. Describe how the narrator leaves Ylayali's apartment.

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the author's life. In what way is his life and personality reflected in the book? What was his experience of starvation and poverty?

Essay Topic 2

What do you think are the main mistakes the narrator makes in the novel? Why does he keep missing opportunities for food and money? How would you react in a similar situation?

Essay Topic 3

The narrator's story is one of suffering. How does Knut Hamsun inject humor into the novel? How does the pace of the novel compare with the contents of the story? Do you think this is an effective literary device?

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