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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 old was Sabbath when his brother, Morty died?

2. Who is Fish?

3. How does Sabbath proposition Michelle to have an affair with him?

4. How was the 1989 scandal made public?

5. What did Helen Trumbull (the girl whose breast Sabbath touched during one of his shows) tell the police officer who arrived to arrest Sabbath?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Sabbath do after opening the box of Morty's possessions?

2. What happened at Sabbath's trial for public indecency?

3. Why does Norman throw Sabbath out of his home?

4. What story does Norman encourage Sabbath to tell Michelle at dinner?

5. What does Sabbath notice about his family's graves?

6. Why does Sabbath think that Norman and Linc chose to produce his show?

7. What did Roseanna do when she found out about the scandal that caused Sabbath to lose his job?

8. Who was Helen Trumbull?

9. In Part 6, why does Sabbath liken himself to Rip Van Winkle?

10. How does Sabbath convince Michelle to have an affair with him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sabbath thinks that Norman remained his friend only because wealthy, well-bred people like Norman need friends like Sabbath, to vicariously enjoy the steamy side of life. Why does Sabbath feel this way? Why is he unable to accept the idea that Norman simply liked him? What excuse does Sabbath make for why Norman and Linc wanted to produce his show? Do you think it is accurate? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

Sabbath didn't want a faithful, exclusive relationship with Drenka when she was alive, but he was tortured by jealousy after she died. What did her death change? Why did his attitude change so much? Why was he unwilling to admit to Drenka that he was already being faithful to her? Was his explanation, that no other women wanted him, accurate? Or was he just refusing to admit that he was being faithful by choice? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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