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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. How did the narrator and Helga feel after their homes had been bombed, at least for a moment?

2. What had been the garbage man's profession before coming to America?

3. What becomes of the rope that was given to the narrator?

4. What does Wirtanen think the Russians would do to get the narrator to cooperate?

5. What is in the capsule that Resi put in her mouth?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the narrator suggests happened to George Kraft's pipe?

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

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

5. What is the Memoirs of a Monogamous Casanova and why did the narrator not want it to be published?

6. When the narrator returns to his ransacked attic home, what does it remind him of?

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

8. Describe the appearance of the Iron Guardsmen.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In your opinion, does Howard Campbell ever redeem himself for his crimes? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss friendships in the novel such as the friendships the narrator has with Heinz Schildknecht and George Kraft. Consider the role of deception in these and other relationships in the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 772 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample