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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. In what month of the year does the story take place?

2. In what country had La Condesa lived?

3. What seems to be the only time the passengers are comfortable?

4. What is the name of the ship?

5. What was the nature of Herr Heinrich Lutz business in Mexico?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why has the time ashore made Frau Rittersdorf particularly melancholy?

2. How does the Captain endure the fiesta in his honor?

3. Describe the burgeoning relationship between Dr. Schumann and La Condesa.

4. How does the author begin the novel?

5. Who conducts the Sunday morning religious services on the ship?

6. What does Freytag tell Mrs. Treadwell about his wife?

7. Which group of people is getting off the ship at this point?

8. Who are the Americans on board the ship?

9. What is the dynamic between Herr Graf and his nephew, Johann?

10. How is Dr. Schumann's health condition revealed?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Freytag thinks to himself, "That easy way out was not for him. His way out was clear--the road ran all the way in, and through, and out again on the other side; all he had to do was to keep going, and not lose his head, and not let Jew or Christian bedevil him into losing his temper and playing into their hands." What literary technique is used in this example? What is Freytag saying?

Essay Topic 2

The author includes the character of Herr Lowenthal who makes his living selling Catholic articles even though he is a Jewish man. Explain the irony in this situation. Are there any other reasons the author included Herr Lowenthal in the story?

Essay Topic 3

There is no real plot line to this story. Why does the author choose to write her book in this way? What is her main focus? In what ways does she get her points across?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,015 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample