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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. How does Bernard allegedly die?

2. Christopher talks about being fearful during which incident?

3. What is the narrator's profession?

4. Where do the men go for entertainment?

5. What does Bowles eat that disgusts Christopher?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the phrase the narrator uses to describe himself?

2. What becomes of Fraulein Schroeder?

3. What happens to Bernard at the end of the story? What does it really mean?

4. What does Christopher discover when he returns to the Nowak house to pick up Otto?

5. What is the nature of the relationship between Peter and Otto?

6. Peter shows several instances of mental illness. Describe the illness and what Peter has chosen to do about it.

7. What is familiar about the lodgings of the narrator?

8. How does Christopher end up living with Otto and his mother, Frau Nowak? Describe the atmosphere.

9. How does Christopher describe the situation?

10. What precipitates Sally's move from her residence? Where does she go?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "The Last of Mr. Norris" Sally and Bradshaw are promised the world by Clive. Clive spoke of Hollywood and of all the wonderful things he could offer them. Discuss Clive and his promises. Do you think any of what Clive was saying was true? Why would he make such promises to Sally and Bradshaw? What happened to Clive? Did any of the promises ever come to fruition? Did Sally ever find anyone to properly finance her blossoming career?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the peculiar relationship between Norris and Schmidt. Was the relationship purely professional? Why did the men repeatedly get back together if the relationship was volatile? Why do you think Schmidt followed Norris to Mexico and California? Why did Norris put up with Schmidt's drunken abuse? What do you think Schmidt knew about Norris that others did not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Christopher Isherwood's career as a writer, before and after he moved to the United States in 1946. What was Isherwood's original reason for traveling to Berlin? How long did he stay in the country? Where did he go after he left Germany? What other books did Isherwood write? What two plays were inspired by "The Berlin Stories?"

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 640 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample