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. According to Mr. Spinell, what affect did Mr. Kloterjahn have on the scene described in his letter?

2. Whose story does Mr. Spinell write that he wants to tell?

3. How is the person who arrives with Mr. Kloterjahn and his son in Chapter 9 described?

4. What is the person that Mr. Spinell sees on his walk doing in Chapter 12?

5. On what point does Mr. Kloterjahn agree with Mr. Spinell in Chapter 11?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What has Mr. Kloterjahn supposedly done to Gabriele, according to Mr. Spinell's letter in Chapter 10?

3. What does Mr. Kloterjahn do in response to Mr. Spinell's letter?

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

5. How does Mr. Spinell leave the final scene?

6. How do we know that playing the piano has put a strain on Gabriele Kloterjahn?

7. How does Mr. Kloterjahn say that he will get even with Mr. Spinell after Mr. Spinell's letter?

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

9. Who, according to Mr. Spinell, is to be credited with bringing beauty back into Gabriele’s life?

10. In Chapter 10, how does Mr. Spinell say that he feels about Mr. Kloterjahn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The concepts of Art and the Artist are key in Tristan.How does Mann view art? How does he view and characterize artists? Does he see the artistic impulse as a strength or a weakness? Why?

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Mr. Spinell and Gabriele Kloterjahn are the two main characters in Tristan. Can one or both of these two characters be said to be the protagonist? Why or why not? If not one of them, is there a protagonist? Who is it? How is a protagonist defined?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 564 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample