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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 was the cause of Phan's death?

2. Why did Sabine's parents not like the Canadian city?

3. Sabine and Parsifal's marriage was one of ________________.

4. What does Sabine do during the days after Parsifal's death?

5. To which Canadian city had Sabine's parents moved?

Short Essay Questions

1. What thought comforts Sabine when her small plane experiences turbulence and she thinks she may die?

2. How does Sabine meet Parsifal's sister, Kitty?

3. Describe Dot's visit at the cemetery.

4. Why does Sabine feel that she cannot stay in the big house any longer?

5. What does Dot tell Sabine about Kitty's belief that Parsifal had a photo of Kitty in his room?

6. What conclusion does Sabine come to regarding Parsifal's denial of any living family?

7. What does Dot's invitation to Sabine foreshadow for the story?

8. How does Sabine philosophize her life versus the one Parsifal had?

9. How do Sabine's parents feel about her going to Nebraska to visit Parsifal's family?

10. Why does Sabine make the decision to visit the Fetters family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Patchett is a master at dramatic devices. Choose an example of symbolism, metaphors, and irony, briefly describe them and identify the technique which they embody.

Essay Topic 2

Describe the role of the family in THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT. What does it mean for each of the main characters? How does the family evolve in its support of each other? How typical is this family to most families living during the late 20th century? How does the triangular relationship between Parsifal, Phan and Sabine consist of a family of sorts?

Essay Topic 3

THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT is a classic story of loss and renewal. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 916 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample