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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 ultimately happens to Bowden?

2. How does David Bowden feel about Geary's murder?

3. What is the effect of the accident that distracts Borlú and Ashil from the investigation?

4. At the end of the novel, what new name is Borlú known by?

5. Borlú has a street urchin deliver an anonymous note to whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. After speaking with Buidze, what hypothesis does Borlú develop?

2. How did Borlú and Dhatt plan to get Rodriguez out of Ul Qoma?

3. What accident interrupts Borlú and Ashil? What is the effect of this accident?

4. Who is Yorjavic? What does Borlú learn about him?

5. Who is Mikhel Buric and what role did he play in the crime?

6. What happens when Borlú and Dhatt attempt to get Rodriguez out of Ul Qoma?

7. Why does Borlú go to the University Library of Ul Qoma? What does he find there?

8. What does Ashil believe about the origin of the accident? What does Borlú believe about it?

9. What information does Borlú learn from Buidze?

10. What is sent to Bol Ye'an? What has been written on it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point in the novel, Borlú remarks that Breach is “a statement of both crime and identity” Analyze how the concept of Breach influences the character of Borlú as well as the novel’s plot and themes.

Essay Topic 2

How would you classify the novel? Is it a murder mystery? Science fiction? Fantasy? Crime novel? Choose a classification and argue why the novel fits it best.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the character of Mahalia Geary. Although she has died before the novel opens, she nevertheless has a great impact on the novel. Analyze Geary’s impact on Borlú as well as on the novel’s conflicts and themes.

(see the answer keys)

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