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

Short Answer Questions

1. When Wilhelm and Tamkin go to the market, what state is Wilhelm in?

2. Why is Wilhelm annoyed by Tamkin's story about his patient?

3. What gift does Tamkin give to Wilhelm?

4. While on the phone with Margaret, what does Wilhelm hear in the background that tells him everything is okay?

5. In Wilhelm's mind, what is the big question regarding Tamkin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Persuasion is an important motif throughout the book.

Part 1) How is persuasion used in the book to influence the main character, Wilhelm? Be specific with quotes and examples from the text.

Part 2) What techniques does the narrator use to persuade us, the readers, to feel a certain why? Cite examples of this.

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Throughout the story, the narrator employs metaphor as a literary device to help us better understand the text.

Part 1) Cite a metaphor in the text and how it is used to further that scene, or a character's development.

Part 2) Why does that metaphor help us readers?

(see the answer keys)

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