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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 activity does Dr. Leander have planned for the patients in Chapter 8?

2. How does Mr. Spinell react when Mr. Kloterjahn enters his room in Chapter 11?

3. Who does Dr. Muller summon to Einfried to see Gabriele?

4. How does Mr. Spinell react to the person he sees on his walk in Chapter 12?

5. What does Mr. Spinell write is his reason for writing a letter in Chapter 10?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Mr. Spinell say he is writing a letter in Chapter 10?

2. What does Mr. Spinell see on his walk at the end of the book?

3. According to Mr. Spinell, why is what he is saying to Mr. Kloterjahn in Chapter 10 not an insult?

4. Why do the baby’s happiness and health disturb Mr. Spinell?

5. Why does Mrs. Kloterjahn initially refuse to play piano for Mr. Spinell?

6. Why do Mrs. Kloterjahn and Mr. Spinell choose to stay back from the sleigh ride?

7. What has caused Gabriele’s condition to worsen in Chapter 9?

8. How much of the music that Mr. Spinell found in Chapter 8 does Mrs. Kloterjahn play?

9. What ruins the scene of Gabriele in the garden with her friends for Mr. Spinell?

10. According to Mr. Spinell, who ruined the scene within his letter and how?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mann uses various psychological concepts, including that of Freud’s sublimation, in Tristan. What is sublimation? How does it appear in and contribute to the novella? How do the characters use sublimation? How does the concept of sublimation relate to Mann’s interpretation of art and the artist?

Essay Topic 2

At Einfried, most of the patients are tubercular. What significance does tuberculosis have for the novella? Why did Mann choose this particular disease to inflict on Gabriele Kloterjahn? How does the disease relate to Mann’s interpretation of the concepts of art and the artist? How does the story arc correspond to the progression of Gabriele’s illness?

Essay Topic 3

Examine Mr. Spinell’s character and how he embodies the major themes in Tristan. How does Mann characterize Mr. Spinell? What commentary does Mann seem to be making about artists through the character of Mr. Spinell? What commentary does he seem to be making about society in general?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 600 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample