View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who is Bowles supposed to meet with at the opening of this section?

2. What happens as Pascali waits at the hotel?

3. What kind of image does Pascali think Bowles projects?

4. What goes wrong with the meeting?

5. Why does Bowles want a few more days at the site?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Pascali miss an important clue about Bowles because of Pascali's own desires?

2. What do you think is one of the main purposes of this short chapter?

3. What is odd about Pascali's reaction to Bowles's not showing up for the meeting?

4. Is there anything in this section that gives a different view of Bowles and perhaps makes him a more likable character?

5. What do you think is Pascali's interpretation of the man he follows and sees laughing with Bowles?

6. How does Pascali now see Bowles and how might that insight be both inaccurate and dangerous?

7. What is ironic as Pascali reflects on whether to send this latest report to the Sultan?

8. How does the symbolism in this section express the duality of the natures of both Bowles and Pascali?

9. Summarize the interaction between Pascali and Bowles just before Pascali leaves the evacuation site and explain if you think Pascali intends to follow through on the agreement with Bowles.

10. How do you think Pascali's perception of Bowles relationship to Pascali enables Pascali to rationalize his blackmail of Bowles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Pascali is constantly projecting personality traits, beliefs, or motives upon other characters. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text, your research or personal experience:

1. What does it mean to project motives or traits upon someone else? Give a couple examples from your own experience when you or someone you know has projected a motive, trait, or belief upon someone else.

2. Name four instances when Pascali projects personality traits, beliefs, or motives upon other characters. How accurate is he?

3. Why do you think Pascali projects personality traits, beliefs, or motives upon other characters? How can projecting cause one to be taken off guard by someone some day? Does that happen in the case of Pascali?

Essay Topic 2

In section 8, at the church, the wax figure of the Saint is brought forward covered by a curtain, where priests prepare him for the reenactment of the Ascension. When the curtain is drawn back, the statue is standing, clothed in robes as has been enacted for years. However, on this day, something has gone wrong and the statue suddenly falls forward, striking the concrete and beheads itself. Choose one of the following and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. In addition to much symbolism in this novel, there are also a number of metaphors. Define metaphor and symbolism and compare the two using specific examples both from the book and other sources. Which do you feel is more effective? Which seems better at expressing the idea of an abstract concept? Why would you use one over the other--give specific examples.

2. For what do you think this scene is a metaphor? Explain using specific examples. Does the metaphor work for you?

3. Write a real or hypothetical situation in your personal experience that includes one or more abstract concepts and then create a metaphor to express that experience. Next, choose a way to use symbolism in the telling of the experience. Which way seems more effective at portraying the experience?

Essay Topic 3

In Section 16, the final section of the book, Pascali ends his report with a rather horrific recounting of the deaths of Bowles, Lydia, Smith and six others. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text, your research or personal experience:

1. Do you think Bowles, Lydia and Smith and the workers deserve their fates? Why or why not?

2. Would Bowles have still attempted to steal the statue had he known there was the possibility of it ending as it did? What might Bowles has said to Lydia with his dying breath? Is he responsible for her death? Or is she totally responsible by the choices she makes?

3. Who is most to blame for all these death? Pasha? Bowles? The Rebels? Pascali? Or is each of them partially to blame? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,676 words (approx. 6 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample