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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 did William do to Venantius’s parchment?

2. What does the librarian do after being librarian?

3. In ‘Fifth Day,’ who does Bernardo think is guilty and investigate?

4. What is the key to entering the inner room?

5. What kind of book does William think they are looking for in ‘Fifth Day’?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where were William’s eyeglasses in ‘Fourth Day’?

2. What makes the Cellarer ‘confess’?

3. What might be ‘dangerous’ about the book’s contents?

4. Who does Bernard Gui (Bernardo Guido) accuse of the murders in ‘Fourth Day’?

5. What does William think about the book in Arabic?

6. If William does not solve the crime, who will?

7. What is the subject of Jorge’s sermon?

8. Who starts the fire at the abbey?

9. What might be ‘dangerous’ about the book’s form?

10. In ‘Fifth Day,’ who has taken the book?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Adso believes himself to be in love with the woman in the kitchen. Why does he believe this? How does this affect him? In what ways might this be a positive thing, and in what ways negative? How does he view the experience from his advanced age?

Essay Topic 2

The book shows two inquisitors, Bernard Gui and William, though he is not acting in this official capacity. How do the two men differ in their approaches? What has William done in the past while conducting inquisitions? How might their methods be the same? Different?

Essay Topic 3

The Judgment Day, the Apocalypse, and the Antichrist are frequent references throughout the novel. Why might these be significant? Are they truly the clue to the mysteries and murders taking place? If not, why might Eco have chosen to discuss them in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 425 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample