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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 is the name of the famous bridge and tourist attraction in Prague?

2. What does Sisovsky claim to hate when talking with Zuckerman in the beginning of the novel?

3. What does Olga demand before showing her vagina to the boy at the orgy?

4. When was the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia?

5. Who accused Eva and her family of being Jews in Europe?

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss the theme of Jewish identity in Philip Roth's writing. What are his influences? What other works address the subject?

2. What does Sisovsky tell Zuckerman about Eva's past in Prague when they first meet?

3. What does Olga represent symbolically in the narrative?

4. What do Mr. Vodicka an the gay boy at Klenek's represent symbolically?

5. What took place that led to Sisovsky's father being shot? Who murdered him?

6. What does the story of Eva's past foreshadow for the protagonist?

7. Where does the narrative open? What year is it?

8. How does Sisovsky describe his father? What does Sisovsky conclude his father belonged to?

9. What does Zuckerman pass on his way to Klenek's? What does he observe upon arriving at the party?

10. Why was Eva accused of being Jewish in Prague? Who accused her and how was he reprimanded?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the different parts of Prague and how the economic situation there in 1976 differed from what Zuckerman had been exposed to in the U.S. What experiences had Zuckerman had with poverty before coming to Prague?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the objectives, actions and obstacles of the characters in pages 32-39. Why did Zuckerman actually come to Klenek's? What does Zuckerman want from Olga? What does Olga want?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss the character of Olga Sisovsky in the narrative. How old is Olga? What is her personality like? How does Olga respond to Zuckerman? To the advances of Mr. Vodicka?

(see the answer keys)

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