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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 does the woman's friend think the narrator is acting so strangely?

2. What does the narrator make a habit of eating to stave off hunger?

3. What makes the narrator cry?

4. What does the narrator want to buy when he tries to find the banker for the second time?

5. Where has Mr. Pettersen gone?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the narrator find sitting on his bedside table when he returns to his old apartment?

2. How does the narrator punish himself for nearly asking the editor for money?

3. Of what does the narrator become terrified in the dark?

4. Why does the narrator give his banker friend his tie?

5. How does the narrator react to the old cripple walking in front of him?

6. Why is the narrator put into a reserved cell?

7. Why does the narrator suspect Scissors of trying to drive him away?

8. Why is the narrator embarrassed by his blanket, and what does he do with it?

9. How does the narrator react to the organ-grinder's daughter's silence?

10. Why does the narrator start crying?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The narrator's story is one of suffering. How does Knut Hamsun inject humor into the novel? How does the pace of the novel compare with the contents of the story? Do you think this is an effective literary device?

Essay Topic 2

What do you think are the main mistakes the narrator makes in the novel? Why does he keep missing opportunities for food and money? How would you react in a similar situation?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's life. In what way is his life and personality reflected in the book? What was his experience of starvation and poverty?

(see the answer keys)

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