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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. To what does Pascali compare the sea?

2. Why does a soldier point a rifle at Bowles?

3. By whom is Pasha's offer of friendship interrupted?

4. How does Bowles think the British operate trade?

5. What is the motivating factor in Izzet agreeing to meet with Bowles?

Short Essay Questions

1. Give a brief analysis of the character of Pascali.

2. Of what does Pascali warn the Sultan, which taken in historical retrospect is "bad advice"?

3. How do Bowles and Pascali view Lydia's painting differently and what surprises Pascali about the way Lydia and Bowles discuss art?

4. How might Pascali actually be creating a wall between him and the townspeople and then misinterpreting the townspeople's actions?

5. Why is Pascali very careful about how he describes Bowles to Izzet?

6. How does the conversation between Lydia and Pascali about the fisherman show that Lydia is lying?

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

8. Name a metaphor or symbol that occurs in this section and what it represents.

9. How is the concept of lighting discussed and interpreted by Pascali

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In Section 7, while Pascali and Bowles are waiting for an audience with Pasha and Izzet, Pascali looks around the room at the many expensive imports. He finds himself filled with a sense of injustice knowing these objects have been obtained through suffering and extortion. He can almost hear them shriek. 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 considering everything that is revealed throughout the novel, what sort of suffering and extortion do you think has taken place and by whom? Give examples from the novel and from extrapolating likely scenarios from the hints provided in the novel.

2. What does it say about Pascali as an extortionist himself (as occurs in Sections 9, 10) that he is appalled by other extortionist? Or is his justifiable extortion versus some other type? Or do these thoughts here give him the idea to later try to extort money out of Bowles and at this moment, he wouldn't consider extortion?

3. Many times the behavior of one is merely a continuation of behaviors from those in authority over the one. For example, Izzet is answerable to Pasha who is answerable to someone who is answerable to someone else, all the way up to the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire. Often, perpetuating injustice and suffering starts at the top and just filters downward. In other words, the standards the "top dog" adheres to tend to be the same as those in the chain under him/her keeps. The reverse is often true also in that a leader/ruler with integrity and goodness tends to have the same persons in positions of authority under him/her. Respond to these ideas using both examples from the book, research or personal experience. You can choose to agree or disagree with the ideas.

Essay Topic 2

In Section 5, Pascali notes his position of "utriusque capex" in both religion and sexuality. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Research and define the phrase "utriusque capax." What language is it? Why would Pascali be using this language? How is this phrase apropos for Pascali? Give specific examples.

2. The phrase "utriusque capax" is used in a few fields--psychology (Jungian), alchemy and music. Choose one of these areas and discuss what the phrase means in that field giving specific examples.

3. It seems that a person who is able to be capable of both (a loose translation of the phrase "utriusque capax") would make an excellent spy. Choose to defend or argue against that idea using examples from the text and personal knowledge.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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