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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. Where does Bowles work?

2. Where does Christopher go after he leaves Berlin?

3. What is the name of the enigmatic character in the house?

4. What word best describes Otto's behavior?

5. Who does Christopher refer to as being "mere ghosts?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What becomes of Fraulein Schroeder?

2. What is the activity shared by Christopher and Fritz. Does the activity confirm any thoughts about Christopher's sexuality?

3. Peter shows several instances of mental illness. Describe the illness and what Peter has chosen to do about it.

4. Who is Clive? What is the relationship between Sally, Christopher and Clive?

5. How does Christopher describe Bernard? How does he compare to Natalia?

6. What events lead up to the first problems with Sally and Christopher?

7. How does Christopher end up living with Otto and his mother, Frau Nowak? Describe the atmosphere.

8. With which two family members does Christopher seem to connect with the most?

9. What is the overall format of the book? What is one of the main recurring themes?

10. When do the events in Section five take place? What is the basis of the vignette?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the peculiar relationship between Norris and Schmidt. Was the relationship purely professional? Why did the men repeatedly get back together if the relationship was volatile? Why do you think Schmidt followed Norris to Mexico and California? Why did Norris put up with Schmidt's drunken abuse? What do you think Schmidt knew about Norris that others did not?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Christopher Isherwood's career as a writer, before and after he moved to the United States in 1946. What was Isherwood's original reason for traveling to Berlin? How long did he stay in the country? Where did he go after he left Germany? What other books did Isherwood write? What two plays were inspired by "The Berlin Stories?"

Essay Topic 3

Several of the characters seemed to be completely oblivious to the political atmosphere in Berlin at the time of the stories. How is it possible to be oblivious to the political scene? Was the scene as volatile as Isherwood makes it out to be? Would it be as easy or more difficult to be as uninformed in today's society? What do you think became of those people that saw themselves as being removed from such issues? Would those people be affected regardless of their knowledge and/or involvement? Explain.

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