View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Gabriele think Mr. Spinell’s name is?

2. Mr. Spinell seems afraid of…

3. Who does Gabriele joke that Mr. Spinell must mean when he says he could look at one particular woman forever?

4. What is Mrs. Kloterjahn’s first name?

5. What is the Kloterjahns' son’s name?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Gabriele Kloterjahn’s inspect her handkerchief after she clears her throat?

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

3. What is the one imperfection in Gabriele Kloterjahn’s face?

4. Why doesn’t Dr. Leander consult with Dr. Muller on Gabriele’s case?

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

6. Of what is Mr. Kloterjahn a connoisseur?

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

8. Why doesn’t the sanitarium restrict its business to consumptive patients?

9. What happens when a patient dies?

10. How does Mr. Spinell act towards Gabriele Kloterjahn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde plays an important role in the novella, as does music in general.Why did Mann choose this particular musical piece for the climactic scene in the novella? What does it add to the story? How do the piece, and the climactic scene in general, shape Mr. Spinell’s relationship with Gabriele Kloterjahn? Why is music so important in the novella?

Essay Topic 3

As with any author, Mann’s writing drew on his own life and experiences. What experiences did Mann live through that may have had an influence on his writing?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 536 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample