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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. Which of the following is an invention of Dr. Tamkin's?

2. When did Wilhelm leave college to go to Hollywood?

3. What stage name does Wilhelm Adler take on when he arrives in Hollywood?

4. Why is Wilhelm not divorced from Margaret?

5. What does Dr. Adler suggest that Wilhelm cut back on?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of the power of attorney document that Wilhelm signs for Tamkin?

2. What is the reason Wilhelm gives Mr. Perls in Chapter 2 for not having a job?

3. Is Maurice Venice truly interested in Wilhelm? Why or why not?

4. In Chapter 7, what is odd about Wilhelm's sobbing at a funeral?

5. Describe Wilhelm's relationship with Dr. Adler.

6. Why does Dr. Adler say he won't give Catherine any money for her art?

7. In Chapter 4, Wilhelm talks about how things would be different with his relationship with his father if he were poor. What would change and why?

8. Why did Wilhelm not marry his girlfriend in Roxbury?

9. What particular feature of Tamkin does Wilhelm constantly refer to in Chapter 4? And how do they change throughout the chapter?

10. What is the main reason that Wilhelm begins to cry at the funeral in Chapter 7? Why does he continue?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When we meet Wilhelm, he considers himself a complete failure. The motif of failure reappears throughout the book.

Part 1) Why is failure significant in this story? What is Wilhelm's relationship with failure?

Part 2) Sometimes failure is defined by its inverse - success. How does Dr. Adler's success help illuminate not only Wilhelm's failure, but some of his own shortcomings?

Part 3) What does Wilhelm learn from his failure, if anything? Do you think he will apply these lessons to his life beyond the book? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

In this story, many of the characters, particularly Wilhelm, struggle to define themselves. Wilhelm has been called by many different names in his life - Wilky, Wilhelm, Tommy Wilhelm, and Vevel.

Part 1) Identify each name and what it means to Wilhelm.

Part 2) Which one does Wilhelm most identify with and why?

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing is a literary device that is used quite often in the book.

Part 1) What is foreshadowing?

Part 2) Cite 3 examples of foreshadowing and how they're used in the text.

Part 3) Why is foreshadowing important in this particular story? What effect does it have on us as readers?

(see the answer keys)

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