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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 adjective best describes the daughter?

2. What is the name of the "animalistic" and selfish German character?

3. Who becomes entrenched with the Nazis?

4. Where do the men go for entertainment?

5. Why does Peter plan to go to see a doctor once he returns home?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who are the residents of the boarding house?

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

5. What becomes of Fraulein Schroeder?

6. How does Christopher describe the situation?

7. How does Christopher describe Bernard? How does he compare to Natalia?

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

9. With which two family members does Christopher seem to connect with the most?

10. How does the author describe Peter and Otto?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the beginning of A Berlin Diary, Isherwood refers to himself as a camera. Isherwood says, "I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking." Why do you think Isherwood used the camera as a metaphor? Why would Isherwood want to record everything around him yet not think about or analyze it? What other references are made to the camera throughout the text? What other metaphors might have worked as well or better?

Essay Topic 2

Norris, the Baron, van Hoorn, Otto and others were involved in gathering and passing on information to various governments. Write a 750 word essay on this practice and how it might have been instrumental in World War II. Do you think what the men did was illegal? Who would punish them for their actions? What were the punishments? Do you consider the activities patriotism or an act of treason? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 637 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample