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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. Who does Pascali meet in the hotel lobby?

2. What does Hogan's wife give Pascali?

3. What does Izzet say he knows about Bowles?

4. What does Pascali find when he returns home?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Explain what Pascali has figured out and how Bowles fits into the picture.

2. Why do you think Pascali continues to let Bowles dictate the terms of their interaction?

3. What evidence is there that Pascali may be in danger?

4. Summarize the interaction between Pascali and Bowles and one probable hidden meaning.

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

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

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

8. Why do you think Pascali blends reality and illusion to create realism in imaginary settings?

9. What does Pascali seem to forget when he is rejoicing at the prospect of 150 liras?

10. What does it suggest to you when Bowles insists on the removal of the soldiers at the evacuation site?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Section 9, the symbolic representation of Bowles' arm and Lydia's body as they made love in Pascali's memory shows Pascali's belief that Bowles and he are unique in their ability to blend reality with lies. 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 the ability to blend reality with lies is unique to Pascali and Bowles in the novel? Who else do you think has this ability? Is it an ability? A defect in character? A psychological problem?

2. How about in "real" life--do you know people who blend reality with lies? Give some examples when you have encountered someone who does this. Did it make you distrust the person?

3. Is there ever a good reason to blend reality with lies? What about for emotional protection when a child is in an abusive situation? Ultimately who is most harmed by someone who blends reality with lies--the one doing it or the one who believes the person? Or both?

Essay Topic 2

The characters in Pascali's Island are the central focus of the novel; in other words, the characters drive the plot rather than the other way around as is the case in some novels. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Write an in-depth character analysis of Pascali. Include a physical description, personality traits, and what beliefs motivate him. What do you like and dislike about this character? Why? Give specific examples.

2. Write an in-depth character analysis of Bowles. Include a physical description, personality traits, and what beliefs motivate him. What do you like and dislike about this character? Why? Give specific examples.

3. Choose three other characters besides Pascali or Bowles and write about them in relationship to both Bowles and Pascali. Are they friendly or hostile to either main character? Explain with examples. What is their purpose(s) in the story?

Essay Topic 3

As the novel opens and then moves along to its conclusion, some characters seem to be more different from each other than first appears and some seem more alike to each other than first appears. Choose one of the following and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Compare the character of Pascali from who he seems to be during the first six sections to the person Pascali seems to be in sections 7-16. How is he alike? How different? Which "person" do you like the best? Why? How is Pascali more alike and more different from Bowles at the end then at the beginning?

2. Compare the character of Bowles from who he seems to be during the first seven sections to the person Bowles seems to be in sections 7-16. How is he alike? How different? Which "person" do you like the best? Why? How is Bowles more alike and more different from Pascali at the end then at the beginning?

3. Compare and contrast Lydia, Dr. Hogan, Izzet, and Herr Gesing from who they seem to be when they are first introduced to who they are revealed to be by the end of the story. How much do they either change or become who they really are? Who did you like at first and then dislike by the end of the story--and vice versa?

(see the answer keys)

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