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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 surprising revelation does Helga give the narrator after their first night back together?

2. Who does the Blue Fairy Godmother say are communist agents?

3. What does Lionel Jones claim his organization is doing that the G-man is not?

4. What was George Kraft using as target practice in Jones' cellar?

5. How does the narrator regard the old trunk?

Short Essay Questions

1. What inspires August Krapptauer to start a youth movement and what is its key aim?

2. Why does George Kraft say he wants to start a new life with the narrator and Resi?

3. What does the narrator tell Frank Wirtanen that he may have done with his life if Germany had won the war?

4. Where does Helga say she found the collection of the narrator's works? What is the significance of this place?

5. What does Frank Wirtanen say will happen to Jones, Keeley, the Black Fuehrer, and the Iron Guardsmen after the raid?

6. Describe the planned escape to Mexico. Who was involved and how?

7. Why does the narrator say he "froze" after he is released after the raid?

8. Describe the appearance of the Iron Guardsmen.

9. How does Resi Noth die and what is the reason?

10. According to Frank Wirtanen, why do the Russians want to get their hands on the narrator?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss nationalism and patriotism as it relates to the novel. Does the novel handle these ideas as generally good, bad, or neutral? How does the narrator feel about these issues? Be sure to use examples to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

Some of the younger characters in the novel, such as Dr. Epstein and the narrator's Israeli-born guard, think discussing what happened in the death camps pointless or irrelevant. Discuss whether these attitudes are healthy examples of people trying to get on with their lives and not be burdened by the past or a troubling example of living in denial.

Essay Topic 3

Howard Campbell discovers that Resi has not only deceived him by posing as Helga's sister, but is also a communist agent involved in a plot to kidnap him. Discuss why Campbell is not particularly shocked or angered by these betrayals.

(see the answer keys)

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