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

2. Sabbath is convinced that the young woman he meets on the subway is whose daughter?

3. Which of the following historical figures does Sabbath mention when Michelle asks him why he pushes everyone away?

4. How old was Sabbath when his brother, Morty died?

5. At the end of Part 8, what does Sabbath do at the beach?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. To whom does Sabbath link himself in the obituary that he composes on the subway?

3. What is contained in the note that Norman leaves on the table for Sabbath on the first morning of his stay?

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

5. What does Rosa give Sabbath hoping that he will not kill her?

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

7. In Part 8, why does Sabbath go to the cemetery?

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

9. How does Norman react to Sabbath when he first sees him again?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Sabbath details the dramatic change that his mother underwent when his brother, Morty, died. What happened to Sabbath's relationship with his mother, as a result of his brother's death? How did the dramatic change in Sabbath's relationship with his mother, and subsequent loss of maternal affection, affect his relationships with women later in life? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

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.

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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