View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. "There were people who argued that this breakfast was an unfair attempt" to do what?

2. What does the hunger artist always feel he is being cheated from doing?

3. Where does the hunger artist perform?

4. What is the only item of furniture in the cage?

5. What does the hunger artist wear?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where is the artist's cage placed in the circus? What is the description of it?

2. What does the artist think of the impresario's claims that the artist's melancholy is a result of the fasts?

3. How does the artist react to those who believe him to be "cheating"?

4. What does the artist recollect about the old days in contrast to now?

5. How long is the fast and why is it this fixed time?

6. Describe briefly which of the three allegorical interpretations discussed in class with which you most agree.

7. What does the artist experience of the audience at the circus?

8. Who helps the artist from his cage?

9. How does the artist feel about the breakfast served to the spectators? What is suspected about this by others?

10. What has happened to the interest in fasting at the beginning of the story? How has this affected the artist?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the hunger artist's reaction to the suspicious watchers versus the watchers who play cards. How does he react to both?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the character of the impresario. What is his appearance? What are this character's actions and objectives in the story?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss "A Hunger Artist "in terms of existentialist philosophy. What about the story conveys these concepts and ideas?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 736 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample