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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. Where did Wilhelm work as a sales executive?
2. Although Wilhelm did not graduate from college, he sometimes lies and says he attended which institution?
3. What does Wilhelm eat after Mr. Perls leaves?
4. What does Wilhelm compare himself to when he sees his reflection in the glass?
5. Why does Wilhelm accuse Dr. Adler of not understanding him?
Short Essay Questions
1. What is the significance of the power of attorney document that Wilhelm signs for Tamkin?
2. Instead of using Tamkin's here-and-now exercise, what does Wilhelm close his eyes and hear?
3. Why does Wilhelm agree to sign a power of attorney document for Tamkin?
4. Why does Wilhelm call Margaret after seeing Dr. Adler? What does she want?
5. How does Wilhelm end up meeting Rubin and Tamkin?
6. What does Wilhelm hope to receive from Mr. Rappaport in Chapter 5?
7. What is the reason Wilhelm gives Mr. Perls in Chapter 2 for not having a job?
8. How does Wilhelm find himself at a stranger's funeral in Chapter 7?
9. How is Dr. Adler's life story different from Wilhelm's?
10. What is the importance of this quote in relation to Wilhelm: "Someone had said, and Wilhelm agreed with the saying, that in Los Angeles, all the loose objects in the country were collected, as if America had been tilted and everything that wasn't tightly screwed down had slid into Southern California."?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Family plays a significant role throughout the book, particularly the strained relationship between Wilhelm and his father, Dr. Adler. Choose one of the following options to write about:
1) Why is the relationship between Wilhelm and his father strained? What events help define for us the nature of their relationship? Does their relationship change by the end of the book? Why or why not?
2) Minor characters in Wilhelm's family also play a significant role. How do the characters of Catherine, Margaret, and Wilhelm's sons help to define Wilhelm as a character? What do they help us to understand about the story?
3) Compare and contrast Dr. Adler and Wilhelm. How are they the same? How are they different?
Essay Topic 2
Throughout the book, alienation is presented as a theme. Wilhelm is the most striking example of this alienation.
Part 1) How is Wilhelm alienated in this story? To what extent is it his own doing and to what extent is it thrust upon him by the other characters? Why do you think this? Cite specific examples from the text.
Part 2) Many characters in this book are also alienated in their own way. Discuss the characters of Dr. Adler and Tamkin and analyze how they are alienated. Use specific examples from the text.
Part 3) Alienation has a powerful effect on the motivations of our characters. How does alienation affect Wilhelm in the story? Do you think the story would be different if he were not alienated? How would it change?
Essay Topic 3
Poetry is quintessential to shaping this story, and reappears throughout the novel. Select one of the following topics:
1. When Wilhelm was sick, Margaret nursed him and read him poetry. In particular, he recalls a few lines of one of the poems she read. What is the significance of this poem? What does it mean for Wilhelm's character development? At what point in the story is this poem revealed? Why is this significant to the story?
2. Before going to the market, Tamkin gives Wilhelm a poem that he claims to have penned just for him. What is the significance of this poem? What does it mean for Wilhelm's character development? At what point in the story is this poem revealed? Why is this significant to the story?
3. Throughout the story, Wilhelm recalls a book of poetry he had read in college. Specifically, it's the line, "Sunk though he be beneath the wat'ry floor." What is the significance of this poem? What does it mean for Wilhelm's character development? Does the meaning of this statement change as we learn more about Wilhelm and the circumstances of his life?
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This section contains 983 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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