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Name: _________________________ | Period: ___________________ |
This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.
Short Answer Questions
1. What does Maurice Venice turn out to be?
2. Why does Wilhelm accuse Dr. Adler of not understanding him?
3. Why did Wilhelm change his name when he got to Hollywood?
4. What does a recommendation from Maurice Venice mean in Hollywood?
5. What was Dr. Adler's former career?
Short Essay Questions
1. Dr. Adler says to Wilhelm, "It doesn't enter your mind that when I die--a year, two years from now--you'll still be here." What does he mean to say and what impression does he give Wilhelm instead?
2. How does Wilhelm view himself after speaking with his father?
3. What is the importance of this quote in relation to Wilhelm: "Someone had said, and Wilhelm agreed with the saying, that in Los Angeles, all the loose objects in the country were collected, as if America had been tilted and everything that wasn't tightly screwed down had slid into Southern California."?
4. After he is rejected by Dr. Adler and Margaret in Chapter 7, what does Wilhelm resolve to do with his life?
5. How does Tamkin convince Wilhelm to invest in commodities?
6. Why did Wilhelm not marry his girlfriend in Roxbury?
7. In Chapter 7, what is odd about Wilhelm's sobbing at a funeral?
8. Describe Wilhelm's relationship with Dr. Adler.
9. In Chapter 5, what do we learn about Mr. Rowland that helped to convince Wilhelm to invest more money in the stock market?
10. What is the significance of the power of attorney document that Wilhelm signs for Tamkin?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Throughout the story, the narrator employs metaphor as a literary device to help us better understand the text.
Part 1) Cite a metaphor in the text and how it is used to further that scene, or a character's development.
Part 2) Why does that metaphor help us readers?
Essay Topic 2
The title of the book, Seize the Day, is used twice in the text, by two different characters.
Part 1) What does "seize the day" mean?
Part 2) Who uses the phrase? Is it used differently the first time it's used and the second? Why or why not?
Part 3) Why do you think Saul Bellow chose this title for his book?
Essay Topic 3
The relationship between Tamkin and Wilhelm in particular illustrates how powerfully trust can influence people. Select one topic to write about.
1. One way we learn that Wilhelm is distrustful of Tamkin is through his detailed description of Tamkin's physical appearance. What is significant about this description? What does it reveal about Wilhelm's attitudes toward Tamkin?
2. Tamkin is always telling fantastical stories and announces that "facts are always sensational." What does he mean by this? Does this comment help Wilhelm to trust Tamkin or no? Why or why not?
3. Sometimes we are predisposed to either trust or not trust someone. What specific factors in Wilhelm's life set up his acceptance of Tamkin? Which factors in his life also lead him to question Tamkin's intentions?
This section contains 779 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) |
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