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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. Who used to call Henry a great human being?

2. What is it in Irene's expensive hotel that makes Henry think about Van Norden?

3. What happens to Peckover that may benefit Henry?

4. What is Henry's opinion about the war games that take place at the barracks next to Fillmore's place?

5. What is Van Norden's objection to French girls?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Henry start out to spend his last night in Paris before going to Dijon?

2. What is it about Van Norden that puzzles Henry?

3. Why does Henry stop writing?

4. Why is Fillmore so late in inviting Henry to move in with him?

5. What is it about Boris that Henry can never quite understand?

6. Describe the idea Henry and Carl get from Van Norden.

7. How do both Fillmore and Henry appear to be gullible?

8. Describe Henry's feelings when he has placed himself on a budget.

9. Does Henry see everything that flows in the same way it was seen by Milton?

10. What makes Henry think about the high born women of Paris?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Henry discovers Papini and is impressed with his writing. Do some research on Papini and explain what it is about him that Miller so admired. Be sure to mention the slight difference in what Papini said about the artist needing to be alone and what Henry says about the same subject.

Essay Topic 2

Pretend you are a newspaper critic and write a summary and critique of THE TROPIC OF CANCER. In your review of the novel, include your recommendation about whether someone should or should not read the book and be specific about your reasons.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper on the power of words and how Miller's use of street language makes his novel so powerful. When reading THE TROPIC OF CANCER, does the vocabulary sometimes make you uncomfortable? Do you think that is exactly the reaction Miller hoped for? Discuss the difference in reading such a novel for its literary merits rather than for satisfying prurient curiosity.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 648 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample