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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. When did Wilhelm leave college to go to Hollywood?

2. According to Wilhelm, what is the purpose of the lawyers that he and Margaret hired for their divorce?

3. Wilhelm receives a complaint from Margaret about what?

4. What is Wilhelm's main reason for moving to Hollywood?

5. Where does Dr. Adler think Wilhelm should be living?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. 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?

3. Tamkin and Wilhelm are equal partners, but Tamkin invested less than Wilhelm. What does Wilhelm think about how Tamkin might use this to his advantage?

4. How does Wilhelm feel about Mr. Rappaport's chicken industry in Chapter 5?

5. According to Wilhelm in Chapter 6, why won't Margaret marry again?

6. In Chapter 4, Wilhelm reveals the real reason he lost his job. What is it?

7. What happens in Chapter 7 when Wilhelm goes to see his father in the spa?

8. In the beginning of Chapter 2, Wilhelm and Dr. Adler have a conversation about Wilhelm's mother. What do they talk about?

9. Name some of Wilhelm's bad habits that his father cannot stand.

10. In Chapter 6, what do we learn about Mr. Rappaport's personal life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Alienation is a motif we see most readily in Wilhelm. He has alienated himself from family, friends, and the world in general.

Part 1) Are there other characters in the book who are also alienated? Which ones? Why would you categorize them as alienated?

Part 2) How does Tamkin take advantage of alienation to serve his own purpose with Wilhelm? Cite specific examples from the text.

Part 3) Would you consider Tamkin to also be alienated? Why or why not? How does this impact the other characters in the story?

Essay Topic 2

The title of the book, Seize the Day, is used twice in the text, by two different characters.

Part 1) What does "seize the day" mean?

Part 2) Who uses the phrase? Is it used differently the first time it's used and the second? Why or why not?

Part 3) Why do you think Saul Bellow chose this title for his book?

Essay Topic 3

Dr. Adler and Wilhelm are two important characters in Seize the Day and have a major impact on the course of the story.

Part 1) Compare and contrast the characters of Dr. Adler and Wilhelm. How are they the same? How are they different?

Part 2) How would we see Wilhelm differently if Dr. Adler had never been introduced as a character?

Part 3) Who is the better father, Dr. Adler or Wilhelm? Cite several examples from the book to support your case.

(see the answer keys)

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