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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 is the name of Mr. Kloterjahn’s business?

2. How does Mr. Spinell react to Gabriele?

3. What disease is primarily treated at the sanitarium?

4. What is the secondary physician’s name?

5. What is the one flaw in Mrs. Kloterjahn’s face?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when a patient dies?

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

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

4. Why does Mr. Spinell say that he is hypocritical?

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

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

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

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

9. How is it obvious that Mrs. Kloterjahn is devoted to Mr. Kloterjahn?

10. Why does Mr. Spinell say that he is staying at Einfried?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mr. Spinell’s letter is an important part of the novella, as it describes his idea of his relationship with Gabriele. Why does Mr. Spinell write the letter? Why does he mail it instead of delivering it to Mr. Kloterjahn himself? How does he describe his relationship with Gabriele Kloterjahn? Why does he view their relationship this way? How does Mr. Spinell view Mr. Kloterjahn and his relationship with his wife?

Essay Topic 2

Mr. Spinell, though paying to stay at Einfried for treatment, does not seem to be actually ill. What does this say about his character? How does his lack of illness relate to his identification as an artist? Why does he want to appear ill? If, as Mann seems to be stating, the artist is inherently a creature of sickness and Mr. Spinell is not sick, can he truly be said to be an artist?

Essay Topic 3

Mr. Spinell believes that only he, and not Mr. Kloterjahn, understands Gabriele. Why does he believe this? Does Gabriele seem to have the same understanding of their relationship as Mr. Spinell? How does Mann characterize the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Kloterjahn? Who, in the end, really understands her?

(see the answer keys)

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