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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 does Gunther do a background check on that reveals he is in the SS and a fanatical anti-Semite?

2. Who is found to be paying for full-page ads for the private investigator hired by the parents?

3. Who does Gunther rescue from being raped by two German soldiers?

4. Who is Herr Weisthor?

5. Who is the dentist that died of a heart attack?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Gunther learn from Reinhard through harsh interrogation?

2. Who is Neumann and what does he tell Gunther that helps him in his case?

3. What happens to Veronika's doctor and what does Gunther discover in the process?

4. What was Becker's assignment and who did he meet with?

5. Describe how Captain Linden and Becker meet.

6. Why is Gunther willing to be a mole in the American organization in Pullach?

7. What does Gunther learn about the American company in Pullach?

8. What does Gunther do to discover more about Vogelmann and what does he find?

9. What is life like in Berlin as the Cold War begins?

10. What does Liebl reveal to Gunther about many Austrians in the War and its aftermath?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of honor and courage in Berlin Noir. Which characters, if any, seem honorable and courageous and in what way? Do the circumstances of war change the definition of what honor and courage is? Describe.

Essay Topic 2

What does the title "March Violets" signify? How is this title important in conveying the historical relevance of the novel and what contrasts in people and society does it imply? Explain your thoughts.

Essay Topic 3

Detective fiction is a popular genre for its archetypal characters such as the hard-boiled detective, the dangerously alluring femme fatale, and the well-heeled villain surrounded by gun-toting thugs. Which of these characters appear in Berlin Noir? Are there any variations to their characterizations and in what way? What aspects of this popular genre do you find appealing and why?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 936 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample