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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 Otto leave for Christopher after the break up?

2. Who does Sally visit after the young man vanishes?

3. What is Christopher's attitude toward Fraulein Schroeder?

4. Where does Christopher go after he leaves Berlin?

5. What is the name of the "aimless" and troubled man?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator describe Sally Bowles?

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

3. Who is Clive? What is the relationship between Sally, Christopher and Clive?

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

5. What is the overall format of the book? What is one of the main recurring themes?

6. What is the subtitle to this section? When and where do the events take place?

7. Who are the residents of the boarding house?

8. What is the activity shared by Christopher and Fritz. Does the activity confirm any thoughts about Christopher's sexuality?

9. How does Christopher describe the situation?

10. What are Christopher's final thoughts on the events of the past several years?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Characters in both novellas express strong support for their political party of choice. How do people on opposing sides maintain friendships? How did Isherwood and Fraulein Schroeder continue an amicable relationship after she devoted herself to the Nazis? What were Isherwood's true opinions? Was he really a Communist or did he show interest only because he was introduced to the concept by Norris? Explain.

Essay Topic 2

Many of the characters in both novellas seem to be transient, moving from place to place, almost at the drop of a hat. Why do you think it was popular to move in with another person or family, even if you had just met? Why did Christopher choose to move in with the Nowaks? Was it common practice or something that was related to the time period and/or the atmosphere of Berlin?

Essay Topic 3

Bradshaw and Norris meet on a train on their way to Berlin. The train is often used as a mode of transportation in literature. Why do you think the train has such a reputation as a meeting place in literature? Name at least three other stories or books that begin with characters meeting for the first time on a train. Do you think that the characters can get to know each other well in such a short period of time? Would the same story evolve if the characters had met on an airplane or bus? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 711 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample