View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Christopher refer to as being "mere ghosts?"

2. How does Bernard really die?

3. Fraulein Mayr belongs to which organization?

4. Christopher is certainly a person that supports which culture?

5. The young American woos Sally with talk of which of the following?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Christopher describe the situation?

3. What events lead up to the first problems with Sally and Christopher?

4. How does the author describe Peter and Otto?

5. When do the events in Section five take place? What is the basis of the vignette?

6. Who are the residents of the boarding house?

7. How does the narrator describe Sally Bowles?

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

9. What is the purpose of Christopher's trip to Ruegen Island? Where does he stay while on the island?

10. What becomes of Fraulein Schroeder?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?"

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

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 597 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample