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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. Why is Christian interested in the house Gieseke keeps for his mistress?

2. What joke does Tom make about Tony's involvement in Erica's wedding?

3. What makes Tom angry after Clara dies?

4. What instrument does Hanno play?

5. How does Tom feel when Herr von Maiboom's family asks for money in "Part VIII"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tom do in "Part VI" when he begins to take his political career seriously?

2. What happens when Frau Consul becomes ill in "Part IX"?

3. How does Tom become a merchant senator?

4. What makes Tom fire Christian from the business?

5. What is Hanno's christening like?

6. What happens after Tom sells the family house?

7. What happens during the war in "Part VII"?

8. How does Tony feel about the marriage of her daughter?

9. What book does Tom read in "Part X"?

10. How do Clara's illness and death affect Tom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What commentary does the author provide about social class divides? Consider the marriages that take place in this novel that cross social class lines.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the role of political strife in this novel. Keep in mind the process to reunify Germany, the radicals and the rioters.

Essay Topic 3

Follow the history of the Buddenbrook family. What are the major turning points? What are their conflicts? What does this family reveal about their society and times?

(see the answer keys)

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