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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. In the narrator's recollection about second grade, to whom does Fanshawe give the present intended for the birthday boy?
(a) Dennis Walden.
(b) His mother.
(c) His girlfriend.
(d) The narrator.

2. What is a speculum?
(a) A musical instrument.
(b) A part of the large intestine.
(c) A shallow pool of water.
(d) Mirror or looking glass.

3. What is the name of the first novel of Fanshawe's that the narrator gives to the editor?
(a) Blubberland.
(b) Candyland.
(c) Timberland.
(d) Neverland.

4. Where do Blue and Black have their second meeting?
(a) On Madison Avenue.
(b) In the Algonquin Hotel.
(c) On the Brooklyn Bridge.
(d) In Blue's apartment.

5. To which philosopher is attributed this quote that the narrator tacks onto the wall: "And when he dreams he does not want to write, he does not have the power to dream he wants to write; and when he dreams he wants to write, he does not have the power to dream he does not want to write."
(a) Nietzsche.
(b) Hume.
(c) Kant.
(d) Spinoza.

Short Answer Questions

1. Where is Sophie Fanshawe from originally?

2. Which of Fanshawe's friends from Harvard had his father arranged for Fanshawe's job on an oil tanker?

3. What does the narrator do after receiving Fanshawe's letter?

4. What does Blue find when he opens the door to Black's apartment after Black tells him to come in?

5. What does Black tell Blue that he thinks the man he is observing is writing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Jane Fanshawe's critique of her son? How does she describe the relationship between Fanshawe and his parents?

2. What is difficult for Blue about writing the monthly reports of Black's activities for White to read? What does he want to include in the reports to make them more truthful?

3. What project does Stuart Green commission from the narrator? What does Sophie suggest the narrator do to make the project more interesting?

4. In the early period of the case, what two extreme attitudes does Blue experience? How does each of these extreme conditions make him feel?

5. What is the person who comes to collect Blue's report at the Brooklyn Post Office wearing? What does Blue do when he sees this person?

6. Why does the narrator struggle with showing Fanshawe's letter to Sophie? What does he do instead?

7. What initiates the argument between Sophie and the narrator at the end of Chapter 7? What is the status of their relationship when the narrator leaves for Paris?

8. What does Jane Fanshawe do after lunch? What does the narrator think motivates this act?

9. When Black speaks to Blue about Walt Whitman, what two internal organs does he compare? What do these viscera have to do with the profession of writing?

10. Why does Fanshawe continue to address his letters to Ellen even after her breakdown? To whom are the letters meant to communicate?

(see the answer keys)

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