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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 does Robert find always falls outside of himself when he considers events and motives?

2. What position did Bolle have in the south that he tired of?

3. Instead of raping, what do the foreigners that visit where the Narrator lives in 1945, do instead?

4. What does Robert think is a fairy tale for those who choose to not know better?

5. In West Germany, what does Bolle find that no one is willing to join him in doing?

Short Essay Questions

1. What amazes the Narrator about his cousin's behavior in Dresden?

2. How does Bolle end up in the French legion in Corsica?

3. Describe the Narrator's experience at the border with the guards and the man with the dog.

4. What are some decadent pleasures that the Narrator enjoys in West Berlin?

5. How do Pommerer and the Narrator differ on their views of East and West German workers?

6. What does Robert think of the police's participation in the violence in town?

7. What is the difference in the experiences that Pommerer and the Narrator have in 1945 with the Russians and Americans respectively?

8. What does Robert observe about capitalism when he goes to check car models with the Narrator?

9. What does Pommerer observe about the DDR leadership and the reconstruction of East Berlin?

10. How does the Narrator identify with the German people and not politics?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe some of the settings for "The Wall Jumper". What is the overall setting? How does the city of Berlin change over time? How is the East different from the West? Be sure to include geography, time period and any pertinent popular culture events. Why did the author choose to use these places in "The Wall Jumper"?

Essay Topic 2

One of the main themes in the book is ethical and social responsibility. List at least four examples where Schneider employs this specific theme. Is the battle between making ethical choices obvious or subtle? What characters are involved in this kind of battle? Do you think the right person or group won? Does good always triumph over evil in the case of "The Wall Jumper" ethics? Where do these definitions appear vague or incomprehensible?

Essay Topic 3

Describe Lena. What is her role in the story? What was Schneider trying to accomplish by creating the Lena' character in the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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