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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 mentions the author, Rudolf Steiner, to Charlie?

2. Why does Cantabile stay behind in the bathroom after speaking with Charlie?

3. What does Humboldt think he and Charlie should do in light of the new US administration?

4. Who hires the psychiatrist, specializing in sex, for Charlie to talk with?

5. Who is Gaylord Koffritz?

Short Essay Questions

1. Humboldt cashes in Charlie's "blood-brother" check. How is this done at a very bad time in Charlie's life?

2. Why does George dislike Dick Durnwald?

3. When Charlie is being told by Judge Urbanovich that he cannot be allowed to dabble in the middle class and then drop out, how does Charlie react?

4. What does meeting Naomi Lutz, Charlie's school-days' sweetheart, lead him to thoughts of?

5. What does Canabile seem to want from Charlie other than help for his wife?

6. Humboldt basically dies a failure in society's eyes. What, upon his death, brings him back to prominence?

7. What does Charlie think Cantabile's rank and place in the organized crime world is?

8. How is Humboldt acting towards Kathleen after he loses the poetry chair at Princeton?

9. Why does Charlie believe Americans have trouble keeping secrets?

10. How does Humboldt end up getting over six thousand dollars from Charlie after Charlie has a successful Broadway show?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In one of Charlie's conversations with Dr. Scheldt, he says, "Death is the dark backing that a mirror needs if we are to see anything."

What is the meaning of this statement?

How does the comparison of death and a mirror have special meaning to Charlie?

Essay Topic 2

Renata makes it clear to Charlie that he thinks too much about death. In what ways does Charlie feel Renata also has a deep connection with death?

Essay Topic 3

Charlie feels he must leave New York and forgo travel to Europe because his brother, Julius, is about to undergo open-heart surgery in Texas. Renata bases her refusal to accompany Charlie to Texas on the notion that she would appear as a gold-digging bimbo if she went in any role but wife.

Why is Charlie reluctant to see Renata go off to Milan on her own? What does he fear will happen?

Even though Charlie may love Renata for many reasons beyond the shallow ones, he is clearly not ready to make the matrimonial commitment. Why not?

Can Charlie have his cake with Renata and eat it too? Does he even want to?

(see the answer keys)

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