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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 narrator say is elegantly carpeted?

2. Why does the narrator think some people like to wear old clothes?

3. What is the name of the story the author says anticipates the Invention of Morel?

4. Which of the following words does the narrator use to describe the rooms of the museum?

5. What does the author say he is bathed in after two or three minutes out of the pool?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the rug seller tell the narrator about the island?

2. Why does the narrator think he will never get to see Faustine again?

3. What does the narrator say happens when he sighs in the basement?

4. What discoveries does the narrator make in the basement?

5. Why is the narrator cautious about meeting the real Faustine?

6. How does the narrator spy on the dinner party?

7. What does the narrator feel about the woman he sees watching the sunset?

8. What is the main theme of many of Casares' works?

9. What kind of machine does the narrator say he wants to develop?

10. How does the rug seller help the narrator escape onto the island?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does the woman on the island have such an affect on the narrator? What do his feelings for her say about Casares' own thoughts on love?

Essay Topic 2

In what way are Casares' views and the way he lived life an important part of what happens on the novel?

Discuss whether it is right or wrong for an author's persona to become such an important part of a story.

Essay Topic 3

Why were genre novels becoming more respected in the 40s? In what way were authors like Casares influential in the critical evaluation of genre books? How was Casares influenced by genres such as adventure books?

(see the answer keys)

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