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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 kind of book did the writer write?

2. What was Mrs. Kloterjahn's first symptom?

3. How does the writer react to Mr. Kloterjahn's action in Chapter 3?

4. What did Mrs. Kloterjahn’s former doctor forbid her from doing?

5. Who becomes Mrs. Kloterjahn’s mentor?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are some of the activities that the patients occupy themselves with?

2. What are Dr. Muller’s responsibilities?

3. Why is the word “trachea” comforting when the doctor says it?

4. Why does Mr. Spinell look at beautiful women out of the corner of his eye?

5. Why has one of the other patients nicknamed Mr. Spinell the “Rotten Infant”?

6. What seems to be Dr. Leander’s opinion of Mr. Spinell?

7. Why are specific cases in particular Dr. Muller’s responsibility?

8. What does Mr. Spinell spend most of his time doing?

9. Of what is Mr. Kloterjahn a connoisseur?

10. What does the vein do to Gabriele Kloterjahn’s countenance?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The novella takes place entirely in Einfried, a sanitarium. Why did Mann choose this setting for his novella? How might the novella be different if the setting were changed? What significance does the sanitarium have for the novella? What does it represent?

Essay Topic 2

Mann uses the third person omniscient perspective in Tristan. What does this point of view add stylistically and thematically to the novella? How would the novella be changed if the perspective were changed?

Essay Topic 3

Thomas Mann had a very distinct style that included the use of parataxis. Why did he choose to write in a long-winded manner? Was he a precise writer? Why or why not? Did the fact that he wrote in German have anything to do with his use of parataxis? What advantages and disadvantages does the use of parataxis hold for the writer? What advantages and disadvantages does its use hold for the reader?

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This section contains 519 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample