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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. Christopher is certainly a person that supports which culture?

2. What finally ends the trouble relationship between Otto and Peter?

3. What is the name of the precocious daughter?

4. What is the name of the enigmatic character in the house?

5. Which of the following characters moves out of the boarding house, making room for Fraulein Bowles?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does the narrator describe Sally Bowles?

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

4. Who are the residents of the boarding house?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Bradshaw talks about the persecution of the Jews at the hand of Hitler and the SS. Aside from the horror of the deaths, Bradshaw cannot help but think of his friends that are Jewish. Bradshaw wonders which have been tortured and which are dead. How would you feel in Bradshaw's shoes? Is there anything Bradshaw could have done to protect his friends? Does Bradshaw ever find out what happened to Rudi and the others?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

It is obvious that many of the characters in the book are homosexual or bisexual, although that precise word is never used. Why do you think Isherwood made many references to this behavior but avoided using any explicit reference to homosexuality and bisexuality? Cite various passages in the text that show a character's sexuality and discuss how it is referenced by Isherwood. Is Isherwood bisexual or homosexual? How do you know?

(see the answer keys)

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