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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. How much is the royalty check that Lonoff receives in Chapter 4?

2. What book does Amy get the name Bellette from?

3. What play has Amy come to New York to see?

4. What was the first title of the published diary?

5. What does Hope tell Lonoff he is frightened to lose?

Short Essay Questions

1. According to the story in Chapter 3, why does Amy take a new name?

2. What does Amy fear Lonoff will think about her after she tells him her story in Chapter 3?

3. Why does Hope storm out of the kitchen in Chapter 4?

4. Why does Hope think she has embarrassed Amy in Chapter 4?

5. According to Chapter 3, why does Lonoff drive to New York in the middle of the night?

6. What does Zuckerman imagine saying to his family as he sits at breakfast with Amy and the Lonoffs?

7. Why does Lonoff say he threw out an old razor blade that morning in Chapter 4?

8. To whom does Zuckerman compare Anne Frank when he is talking to Amy in Chapter 4?

9. Why is Amy not surprised when Zuckerman tells her she looks like Anne Frank?

10. Why does Amy say she wrote and kept the diary while in hiding?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Philip Roth tends to use some of his characters as alter egos of himself. Explore Roth's use of characters in "The Ghost Writer" as alter egos. Who is Roth's alter ego in the story? Can more than one character serve as an alter ego? How do the characters become alter egos? Use specific examples from the story in the response.

Essay Topic 2

Roth uses his stories to make a statement on the role of the writer. Write a response exploring how Roth makes this statement in "The Ghost Writer." How do the characters help perpetuate Roth's statement on the role of the writer. What do the characters believe the role of the writer is? How do the characters' beliefs reflect Roth's beliefs? Use specific references to the text in the response.

Essay Topic 3

In "The Ghost Writer," Roth uses the theme of the importance and role of family. What role does family play for each main character (Amy, Lonoff, Hope, Zuckerman)? How is each characters' family portrayed? How do the characters' families influence the book's plot? Use specific references to the story in the response.

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