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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. At whose suggestion does Arthur attend the writer's retreat in India?

2. The narrator describes the Bedouin encampment as a what?

3. Who places his hand on Arthur's back during the funeral for Arthur's mother?

4. How many students initially show up to Arthur's first class session at Liberated University in Germany?

5. Arthur is described by the narrator as someone who can "sometimes touch another and send the spark of his own" what "into theirs"? (114)

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator reveal about Zohra's past?

2. What is the significance of Arthur noticing the camel boys sitting with their arms around one another in Morocco?

3. What does Tahiti symbolize to Arthur and why?

4. What are Arthur's duties during his time in Germany?

5. What is the symbolism of Ait Ben Haddou in Morocco?

6. Explain the significance of the narrator's statements about the ages of 10, 20, 30, and 40, at the moment Arthur finds himself locked out of the German university apartment.

7. In what ways does Arthur see Lewis and Clark's marriage as an ideal one?

8. What is the subject of Arthur's fever dream in Paris when he is there with Freddy?

9. What is the focus of Rupali's warning to Arthur regarding his stay at the Indian retreat?

10. How does the author use the narrator's discussion of camels in order to shape the reader's understanding of how Arthur's "single indulgence" (13) on the trip will likely turn out?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sensory details are used frequently by the author in order to create vivid pictures of the places Arthur visits along his journey. Choose three scenes in which sensory details are heavily used and discuss how the sensory details used by the author set a particular mood for each of the three scenes.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the many instances of irony within the novel's narrative and analyze the author's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's use of humor alongside humanist messages within the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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