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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. Who becomes entrenched with the Nazis?

2. What is the girl's last name?

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

4. How old is Sally?

5. What is the name of the precocious daughter?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What becomes of Fraulein Schroeder?

5. What was Christopher's reaction to being flirted with by two of the three ill women at the sanitarium?

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

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

8. Who are the residents of the boarding house?

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

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

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

What was Norris' original idea when it came to introducing Bradshaw to the Baron? Why did Norris think it was important? What was Bradshaw's reaction? Was Norris correct in his assumptions? What kind of relationship developed between the Baron and Bradshaw? Was the relationship saved after Schmidt's sabotage? Explain. How did Bradshaw and the Baron go their separate ways? Did they end their relationship on good terms?

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.

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This section contains 712 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample