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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. Santino was a drystone waller who hates _____________.

2. What did Klara do too long with her son Adolf as mentioned in the beginning of this book?

3. What does Schramm weep at when he is recuperating from his illness?

4. What are Tomitz and Renzo working on as they travel on their way to Valdottavo?

5. What would NOT be necessary to nurse Schramm back to health?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Santino tell the Blums to do in order to save themselves from the Germans?

2. What does Renzo speculate about the human beings in the world?

3. What appears outside of the hut where the Blums are hiding, much to their surprise?

4. Describe Renzo's history with the Italian Royal Air Force.

5. What is Loeb's frantic warning to everyone he speaks to after the bells ring at the church?

6. How does Schramm travel through German checkpoints?

7. What does Werner Schramm apologize for when he finally runs into Osvaldo?

8. What was Klara Hitler's fate that might have further spurned on Adolf's eventual mission in life?

9. What does Catarina Dolcino confess to Don Osvaldo that seems "funny" to him?

10. What does Schramm understand now that he sees how life really is rather than how it is portrayed by artists?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Children also seem to play a minor, yet significant role in the story. They seem to be giving the story a subtext which is speaking more to the themes of the story.

Part 1: Who are some of the children mentioned?

Part 2: What were the fates of the children who were mentioned?

Part 3: What do you think the author is saying about youth and about new life?

Essay Topic 2

The question of identity is another concern in this story. Since identities need to change in order to secure safety, the idea of one's identity seems to be less important than safety.

Part 1: What are some of the identities that the male characters take on?

Part 2: What are some of the identities that the female characters take on?

Part 3: Do the characters seem to change when they change their identities? In what ways, if at all?

Essay Topic 3

Renzo is a fascinating character, always taking another side in the conflict, trying to remain away from the politics of the time.

Part 1: What are some of the roles Renzo plays within the conflict?

Part 2: Why doesn't Renzo take a side when it comes to the political arena?

Part 3: Does Renzo's noncommittal seem to be a good thing or a bad thing for others in the story? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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