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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. What does Pascali note about the fisherman Hassan?

2. With whom does Pascali notice Bowles having a growing relationship?

3. Who does Pascali wonder might be the leak as to his spy activities?

4. What does Pascali say he does to his stories?

5. Why is Pascali perturbed when he delivers the contract to Bowles?

Short Essay Questions

1. In continuing his report to the Sultan, what parallels does Pascali note?

2. Of what does the fact that Bowles is walking and talking with Pascali in public remind Pascali?

3. What does Bowles ostensibly say is his interest in the Sanctuary of Artemis?

4. What does Lydia report about the Sultan and how does this report impact Pascali?

5. Describe the presentation of the wax figure of the Saint and how you might interpret this event.

6. What are some signs of the high level of tension present on the island?

7. What is ironic about Pasha buying land from the locals?

8. What are some images that seem to suggest the violence that is simmering just below the surface on this island?

9. How does Pascali represent the theme of violence symbolically?

10. How is the symbolism of the sky and sea used again in this chapter?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Section 1 contains many symbolic representations of concepts, many of which are alluded to throughout the novel. Answer the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Follow the images of the sea throughout the novel. How is the sea described physically and what is the symbolic meaning of the descriptions?

2. What items in the first section and following sections are symbolic of violence? Name some and how they represent the idea of violence.

3. How is light discussed in section 6 and what might the images represent symbolically?

Essay Topic 2

In section 8, at the church, the wax figure of the Saint is brought forward covered by a curtain, where priests prepare him for the reenactment of the Ascension. When the curtain is drawn back, the statue is standing, clothed in robes as has been enacted for years. However, on this day, something has gone wrong and the statue suddenly falls forward, striking the concrete and beheads itself. Choose one of the following and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. In addition to much symbolism in this novel, there are also a number of metaphors. Define metaphor and symbolism and compare the two using specific examples both from the book and other sources. Which do you feel is more effective? Which seems better at expressing the idea of an abstract concept? Why would you use one over the other--give specific examples.

2. For what do you think this scene is a metaphor? Explain using specific examples. Does the metaphor work for you?

3. Write a real or hypothetical situation in your personal experience that includes one or more abstract concepts and then create a metaphor to express that experience. Next, choose a way to use symbolism in the telling of the experience. Which way seems more effective at portraying the experience?

Essay Topic 3

In Section 16, the final section of the book, Pascali ends his report with a rather horrific recounting of the deaths of Bowles, Lydia, Smith and six others. Answer the following questions by writing a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text, your research or personal experience:

1. Do you think Bowles, Lydia and Smith and the workers deserve their fates? Why or why not?

2. Would Bowles have still attempted to steal the statue had he known there was the possibility of it ending as it did? What might Bowles has said to Lydia with his dying breath? Is he responsible for her death? Or is she totally responsible by the choices she makes?

3. Who is most to blame for all these death? Pasha? Bowles? The Rebels? Pascali? Or is each of them partially to blame? Explain.

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