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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 does Sabbath start carrying in his pants pocket?

2. While on the subway in New York, from which of the following plays does Sabbath recite lines?

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

4. Why does Sabbath refuse to read the newspapers that Norman gives him?

5. Why does Sabbath begin to cry while sitting at Norman's table?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What was the scandal that caused Sabbath to lose his job at the college?

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

4. On the first night of his stay with the Cowans, why is Sabbath in such a good mood at dinner?

5. What are some of the items that Sabbath finds in the box containing Morty's possessions?

6. Why does Norman invite Sabbath to stay with him?

7. How does Sabbath locate the cemetery where his parents are buried?

8. Who was Helen Trumbull?

9. What does Sabbath notice in Fish's house?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sabbath has been married twice: to Nikki, and then to Roseanna. What qualities do his two wives have in common? What attracted them to Sabbath? What attracted Sabbath to them? Why did Sabbath choose to marry them, despite the fact that he seems incapable of love? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

A detailed account is given of the reasons why Sabbath and his wife, Roseanna, hate each other. How has their relationship changed since it began? Why? Why has neither of them left the other considering the state of their relationship? Sabbath thinks that he can make things right with Roseanna by showing her some affection. Do you agree? Why or why not? 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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