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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. How old is John Young when he sails for Europe?

2. In the narrator's experience, where is Tod Friendly when he begins to touch himself?

3. Where does the narrator think that Tod Friendly finds Irene's love letters?

4. What happens when the narrator has a moment of lucidity?

5. When does the narrator begin to feel that the world is going to start making sense very soon?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does John Young/Hamilton de Souza feel about his body?

2. How does John Young's relationship with Irene progress?

3. What does the narrator understand about sex?

4. How does the narrator feel about John Young's work?

5. Describe John Young's departure from Europe.

6. What is the key to substance for the narrator?

7. Describe how the narrator feels about Tod Friendly's work?

8. How does the narrator experience Tod's relationship with food?

9. How does Tod feel about his physical body in the first chapter?

10. What is the narrator's relationship with Tod Friendly?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator and Odilo both have secret knowledge which others around them do not know.

1. Citing specific examples from the text, describe the effect of secrets on Odilo and the narrator. Who can they tell? Who do they have to keep the secrets from? How do the secrets affect their decisions or their feelings?

2. What part do the secrets play in the characters' development? What kinds of things are possible because of their secret knowledge? What kinds of things are impossible?

3. Why is Odilo afraid of being found out? Is there ever a time when he acts honestly, or considers revealing his secret to another character?

Essay Topic 2

The first chapter is titled, 'What comes around goes around." What does this title mean?

1. Is Odilo brought to justice? Is he cleansed of his sins, or redeemed for his experiences? Does he suffer what he inflicted on others?

2. Is this title ironic, or is it intended literally. Cite specific examples from the text in your answer.

Essay Topic 3

The narrator's backwardness is a unique perspective for a narration. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this conceit? What can you see in reverse that you might not see going forward? Describe the mechanisms and the effect of the irony or the humor this type of narrative creates.

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