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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. What does Van Liempt discover about the fate of Anton's parents?

2. What is Anton's mother doing at the beginning of the First Episode?

3. Who first moves the body of the man who was shot?

4. Where does Anton walk while visiting Haarlem in the Second Episode?

5. In what year does "The Assault" begin?

Short Essay Questions

1. When Anton returns to his old neighborhood for the first time, how have his neighbors changed?

2. How does Anton spend the night after the shooting?

3. Upon arriving in Amsterdam, what happens to Anton in the First Episode?

4. What are the similarities between the author Harry Mulisch and the character Anton?

5. What are the guests talking about at the birthday party in the Second Episode?

6. Why does Mr. Steenwijk teach Peter and Anton at home?

7. When returning to his neighborhood for the first time since the assault, how does Anton respond to Mrs. Beumer's invitation to come inside?

8. In the Second Episode, why does Anton leave the birthday party early?

9. Describe Anton's childhood neighbors.

10. When did Anton treat a Nazi youth with kindness?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Just as many characters could be considered culpable of the murder of the Steenwijks, many also deal with guilt. Choose three characters from the Assault and answer the following questions.

1) What part does the character have in the night of the assault?

2) Why does the character consider himself or herself guilty?

3) How does the character deal with that guilt?

Essay Topic 2

"The Assault" records two encounters that Anton has with Fake Ploeg the son. What are these two episodes, and what do they say about the character of Anton?

Essay Topic 3

In the beginning of the book, Anton's family consists of his parents and Peter. At the end, he has created a new family for himself. Discuss Anton's relationship with his family members, including both of his wives and his children.

(see the answer keys)

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