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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 country was Harrer imprisoned in during World War II?

2. What aspect of climbing does Harrer want to focus on in his book?

3. What does Maix say the truth about the North Face of the Eiger will provide?

4. Why did Austrians Waschak and Forstenlechner delay their start, while a party of four Swiss climbers began an ascent up the North Face in 1950?

5. What caused the people on the ground to lose sight of the first climbers up the North Face on their third day?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the ascent of Buhl, Jöchler, the Maags, and the French through the Ramp.

2. How were photos taken of the climbers traversing toward the Spider?

3. When Allmen checked on the mountaineers he knew were climbing toward him, what did he find?

4. What did Rebitsch and Vörg do, after a harrowing climb on the mountain, when they learned that Gollackner had died on the mountain?

5. Describe the first climb up the Eiger.

6. Who were the climbers forced out of Switzerland in 1937?

7. Where did rescuers start from to try to rescue Toni Kurz?

8. Why did Heckmair and Vörg turn back from their climb on July 21?

9. Was there rivalry between the parties attempting to climb the North Face in 1937?

10. How did Fritz Kasparek and Harrer meet?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the point of view of Harrer's THE WHITE SPIDER.

1) How does Harrer portray climbers and events that he knows of through research, compared to those that he knows personally?

2) How does the shift in point of view to Harrer's personal account of his experiences affect the book?

3) When does Harrer use personal narration, aside from the account of his own climb of the North Face? How do these personal interjections affect the book?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the accomplishment of firsts in Harrer's book.

1) What firsts does Harrer seem to feel are most important? Does Harrer's position as one of the first party to climb the North Face change his view on firsts?

2) Why does Harrer's final chapter focus on firsts? How does he view the prospective first direct route up the North Face differently from earlier firsts?

3) Are "first" accomplishments admirable? Why are they notable?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the relationship of money and climbing in the book.

1) How does Harrer portray climbers who have financial backing versus those who have little money and equipment?

2) How does poverty affect the ability of climbers to be successful?

3) Is Harrer's portrayal of impoverished young climbers romanticized?

(see the answer keys)

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