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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. As the garden party ends, what do Sophie and Alberto do?

2. According to Alberto, the Romantic Movement tends to degenerate into what?

3. What do surrealists say about art?

4. What does Alice bring Sophie during the Kierkegaard lesson?

5. What does Kant concern himself with?

Short Essay Questions

1. Kierkegaard coined the slogan, "Question Authority." Write about two instances where you have seen this slogan used in our culture.

2. Hilde still believes that Sophie and Alberto exist on some level. What is the author's attitude toward the subject? Why?

3. What is the author's tone toward Sophie and her mother in the Berkley chapter? Why?

4. What is the importance of the party becoming the theater of the absurd?

5. How does Hilde regard Sophie in the Bjerkely chapter? Why does she feel this way?

6. Why does Hilde get angry when her father orders her to finish the book before his return?

7. Why do the Ingebrightsens become upset with Alberto's speech?

8. How does Freud relate to the theme "bravery" of this novel?

9. Kant looked at the individual's perception as most important. How is this theory applicable to Sophie?

10. Were you confused by Darwin's theory at all? Explain how you were or weren't.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the chapter titles. The first title is "The Garden of Eden." Why would Gaarder begin his novel this way? Some of the titles are simplistic, such as the names of philosophers. Others have more meaning. Analyze these titles and relate them to the deeper meaning presented in the corresponding chapter.

Essay Topic 2

Look at the cartoon and imaginary characters throughout the book. What role do they play? How are they connected to the chapters and philosophies they are mentioned in? Is their inclusion an effective technique?

Essay Topic 3

Characterize Major Knag. Look at his name--does the play on his name have significance? How do Hilde and Alberto indirectly characterize him? How is he directly characterized?

(see the answer keys)

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