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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. Due to which of the following realizations does Sabbath claim that he fainted when Norman kicked him out?

2. What does Sabbath think that Michelle is trying to communicate to him by what she is wearing?

3. How does Sabbath respond when Norman takes his hand?

4. At the beginning of Part 6, Sabbath is likened to which of the following fictional characters?

5. Why did Sabbath lose his job at the college in 1989?

Short Essay Questions

1. On the first night of his stay with the Cowans, why is Sabbath in such a good mood at dinner?

2. What does Sabbath notice about his family's graves?

3. In Part 8, why does Sabbath go to the cemetery?

4. Why does Norman invite Sabbath to stay with him?

5. Why does Norman throw Sabbath out of his home?

6. Who was Helen Trumbull?

7. Why are a few pages of Part 6 written without punctuation?

8. To whom does Sabbath link himself in the obituary that he composes on the subway?

9. In Part 6, why does Sabbath liken himself to Rip Van Winkle?

10. How does Sabbath locate the cemetery where his parents are buried?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At one point, Sabbath mentions that all of the women in his life hated their fathers. Why do you think that is so? Why did a lack of paternal affection change them in a way that attracted them to Sabbath? What qualities did those women have that made them a target for Sabbath? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 2

In the novel, most of what Sabbath says is framed as biting sarcasm. But how much truth underlies his type of "humor"? What is the author trying to accomplish by framing Sabbath's attitudes and comments in a sarcastic fashion? Is it to merely entertain the reader? Or is there other significance to that method? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

Essay Topic 3

Sabbath lost all interest in directing when Nikki disappeared. Why? What was so different about directing when he no longer had Nikki as his leading lady? Would Sabbath have continued to direct if Nikki had stayed? Would there have been any future in it for him? Why or why not? Be sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your thesis.

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