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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. Why will all writing be imperfect, according to the narrator?

2. Who, according to the narrator, does not realize the difference between the people of the middle class and those of other classes?

3. What is a heteronym?

4. What does the narrator say he lacks sufficient money to be?

5. According to the narrator, what kind of people own the world?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator say about animal happiness? What is is reasoning?

2. Why are women considered to be nothing more than decor by the narrator?

3. Discuss the narrator's conflicting thoughts and statements about his wife.

4. Why does the narrator say he never puts forth much effort into various aspects of his life?

5. What does the narrator say about tedium?

6. How does the narrator begin to view writing after the critic advises him about his physical appearance?

7. What is the gift of the common folk, according to the narrator?

8. Of the five senses, which does the narrator say is the most important?

9. What perception does the narrator believe readers will have of him after reading the book? Why is the anticipated perception not true, according to the narrator?

10. Who is Omar Khayyám, and how does he differ from the narrator?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Who is Omar Khayyam and what is his relevance to this book?

Essay Topic 2

Define symbolism. Discuss and analyze one example of symbolism from The Book of Disquiet.

Essay Topic 3

There are four common points of view in which literature is written: first person, third person objective, third person limited, and third person omniscient. Which point of view does the author use in this book? Is this the most effective point of view for this story? Could this story have been told from a different point of view and still been in the same genre?

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This section contains 750 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample