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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. The author awakens to the sound of what?

2. What torments the author in the southern part of the island?

3. What does the narrator claims stops one from running away in dreams?

4. What does the Italian in Calcutta sell?

5. What kind of poetry does Bioy favor?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the narrator initially try to escape from the basement?

2. Why does the narrator decide against escaping the island?

3. Why does the narrator decide against suicide?

4. Why doesn't the narrator like being in the lowlands?

5. What is happening in the museum when the narrator enters to find food?

6. Why does the narrator think the roots he has been eating have caused him to hallucinate?

7. What does the narrator feel about the woman he sees watching the sunset?

8. What is Casares' relationship with Borges?

9. Why does the narrator contemplate murder?

10. Why does the narrator think he will never get to see Faustine again?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does the narrator's paranoia affect his decision making? What does the narrator's paranoia say about the affects of solitude?

Essay Topic 2

Aside from the main character, examine the way the author uses the other characters in the book. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does this have on the story?

Essay Topic 3

What does the fact the narrator worships an image say about 1940s society? Do the students think the author's view point is still relevant today?

(see the answer keys)

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