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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. K. understands that it is his duty to do what with the knife in “The End”?

2. What organization had K. been a member of relating to art history, as described in “In the Cathedral”?

3. In the end of “Block, the Corn Merchant – The Dismissal of the Lawyer,” Leni tells Block to leave what alone and listen to the lawyer?

4. What word from “Block, the Corn Merchant – The Dismissal of the Lawyer” means characterized by sickly sentimentality?

5. What word from “In the Cathedral” refers to an ornamental rail with supports?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the character of Titorelli represent symbolically in The Trial?

2. How is the character of Block described in “Block, the Corn Merchant – The Dismissal of the Lawyer”? What was his position prior to his trial?

3. In what way is K.’s character similar to Job from the Old Testament?

4. What is K. supposed to do with the butcher knife in “The End”? What does he do instead?

5. What does Titorelli explain to K. about the nature of the system in “The Lawyer – The Factory-Owner – The Painter”?

6. In what ways does K. demonstrate the theme of the individual versus society in The Trial?

7. How are the women in the novel similar to Gatekeepers?

8. How does the author employ the use of shadows and ambiguity in the novel? What does this represent?

9. How can K.’s character be seen as a reflection of Adam from the Bible in The Trial?

10. What does Uncle Karl relate to K. about his actions and their reflection on the family in “His Uncle – Leni”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze K.’s objectives and obstacles when he commits to the action of kissing Fraülein Bürstner in “A Conversation with Frau Grubach.” What does K. hope to achieve through this action? Is he successful? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Define “narrative point of view” in literature and identify the narrative style in The Trial. Is the narrative of the story related from a first, second or third person narrator? Is the story told in present or past tense? What effects do these choices have on the reader?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the characters of Bertold and the Usher’s Wife in the novel. What is Bertold a student of? How do the Usher and the Usher’s Wife describe his character? What power does Bertold hold within the courts?

(see the answer keys)

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