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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What's the name of the movie that Wilhelm appeared in as an extra?

2. What are the funeral guests whispering to themselves at the end of Chapter 7?

3. What religion was Wilhelm's mother during his childhood?

4. How much money does Tamkin invest?

5. What is the second thing Wilhelm does in the beginning of Chapter 7?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As Wilhelm suspected, Tamkin ultimately takes off with his money and leaves him to deal with the fallout. Abandonment is a key motif in the story.

Part 1) How does abandonment affect Wilhelm? Why does Tamkin abandon him? Who else abandons Wilhelm?

Part 2) How does Wilhelm's childhood - specifically his relationship with his father - feed his issues of abandonment?

Part 3) Finally, how does abandonment factor into Wilhelm's own family? How does it relate to Margaret? And Wilhelm's sons?

Essay Topic 2

Point of view has such a presence in the book that it is almost another character.

Part 1) What point of view does the narrator use in the book? Why is it significant?

Part 2) How does this point of view affect our perception of Wilhelm as a character? Why?

Part 3) How would the book be different if told from a different point of view?

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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