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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 one aspect of Owen's experience are the men of his story interested in?

2. What unusual thing do the Keller's do late at night in Chapter 3?

3. With whom does Eliades talk throughout most of dinner in Chapter 3?

4. What business does Volterra want to run when his film career ends?

5. When did Kathryn begin her work with Owen?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the murder in Kouros.

2. Describe Owen Brademas.

3. What story does Owen tell about a cave in Chapter 2?

4. In Chapter 4, what plan does Kathryn have for after her dig ends?

5. Describe the tiff that Charles Maitland and James have at the end of Chapter 7.

6. What theory about the language cult does James present to Owen in Chapter 7?

7. What strange coincidence does James notice at the end of Chapter 6?

8. How has Kathryn Axton changes since separating from James?

9. Why is Owen uncomfortable talking about the Feast of the Virgin in Chapter 2?

10. How did James Axton begin working at Northeast Group?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

A central theme of Don DeLillo's The Names is the mystical and broad meaning of language. In this novel, language and words not only contain meaning but also a sort of divine truth. Write an essay in three parts about the way DeLillo deals with truth in the novel:

Part 1) Owen Brademas is the major character with the most passionate connection to language in the novel. Discuss what influences in his life, beginning with his childhood, have contributed to this connection. What does he want to do with his life, and how do words become part of this? What is the purpose of ancient words, in his viewpoint?

Part 2) Midway through the novel, the mysterious Vosdanik explains the significance of words to the mysterious cult. Describe the role of language to the lonely men of the desert. Why are they obsessed with them? Historically, what has been the significance of words to spiritual acolytes?

Part 3) What is the methodology of the language cult? Why do they commit their murders? What divine extreme are they reaching for? Citing the words of Vosdanik, Andahl, and Singh, discuss the meaning of the cult in the world of the novel. Are they the touchstone of love of language in The Names?

Essay Topic 2

The world of The Names is one in which truth and facts are subjective. One can never be certain what is real and what is imagined. As such, there are a plethora of ambiguous characters in the novel. Write an essay about three such characters, discussing what they appear to be and what they are. How is the narrative affected by each of these characters? What deceptions do they perpetrate, and to what end? Is each characters' objectives identified by the end of the novel?

Part 1) Eliades

Part 2) Rowser

Part 3) Andahl

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay about the ensemble that is James Axton's expatriate social scene. What collective philosophy do these people share, and for whence does this philosophy derive? In this essay, discuss the dynamic that exists within the group. Who are the most dominant figures in the group dynamic, and who feels like an outsider? Which couples are strong and which are clearly foundering? How is this made apparent?

(see the answer keys)

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