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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 surprised Matija enough to cause him to end his conversation with Sabbath?

2. Over the years, Sabbath has encouraged Drenka to do which of the following?

3. Why does Matija's story about the sympathy cards that he received after Drenka's death upset Sabbath?

4. Why does Sabbath only visit Drenka's grave at night?

5. What does Drenka's husband do for a living?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Sabbath choose to leave New York?

2. How does Sabbath make the decision to leave Roseanna?

3. What does the spirit of Sabbath's mother say to him at the end of Part 4?

4. What profession does Sabbath think that he should have chosen in Part 3?

5. Why did Sabbath quit directing?

6. What does Sabbath like and dislike about Roseanna's participation in Alcoholics Anonymous?

7. How is Drenka described in Part 1?

8. What event ended in Sabbath's arrest?

9. Why was Drenka initially attracted to her husband, Matija?

10. What caused Matija to end his encounter with Sabbath abruptly, but politely?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the novel, most of what Sabbath says is framed as biting sarcasm. But how much truth underlies his type of "humor"? What is the author trying to accomplish by framing Sabbath's attitudes and comments in a sarcastic fashion? Is it to merely entertain the reader? Or is there other significance to that method? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

When Sabbath leaves home, Roseanna gets over him fairly quickly. In fact, within a few days' time, she has a new companion. Why are Roseanna and Christa attracted to one another? What is Christa able to provide, that Sabbath could not? What does that tell the reader about Roseanna's feelings for Sabbath? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

At one point, Sabbath mentions that all of the women in his life hated their fathers. Why do you think that is so? Why did a lack of paternal affection change them in a way that attracted them to Sabbath? What qualities did those women have that made them a target for Sabbath? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

(see the answer keys)

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