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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 the gypsy woman say to Julian?

2. What does Libor suggest Julian needs?

3. What does Hephzibah do after leaving her last job?

4. Why did Sam appear on "Desert Island Discs"?

5. What does Hephzibah ask Julian to help her do?

Short Essay Questions

1. What agreement do Julian and Hephzibah make?

2. What debates does Julian think about as he walks to Regent's Park and what is Julian's thought about what Libor says?

3. What do Tyler and Julian do and what is their thought about it?

4. How do Sam and Libor say and think concerning Sam and Julian?

5. Why doesn't Julian accept a dinner invitation from Libor a week after Julian's mugging?

6. What does Emmy ask of Libor?

7. Who is Emmy Oppenstein and how does Libor reconnect with her?

8. What position has Hephzibah recently taken on and why does Julian think she was chosen for the new position?

9. What is Sam's response to Julian's story about the mugging?

10. What does Julian not understand about his friend Libor?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

As Sam and Libor discuss their deceased wives, Sam envies Libor's range of grief and measures his husbandly worth against Libor's. Libor was always faithful to Malkie, and though Sam feels guilty for his infidelities, "It takes two to create fidelity, and while he wouldn't go so far as to say Tyler was not worthy of his, she certainly hadn't made it easy." It seems as though Julian is jealous of the grief that he imagines Sam and Libor experience, but Sam is jealous that Libor is actually mourning for his wife while Sam is simply angry that things did not work out the way he expected.

1. Do you think if a person loses a spouse and does not grieve as much as what most people think they should it means it was a bad relationship? Why or why not? Use examples from your own life and the book to support your answer.

2. Discuss the reasons you think Sam believes that Tyler was partly responsible for him being unfaithful. Use examples from your own life and the book to support your answer.

3. Discuss the reasons Julian might be jealous of Sam and Libor and what you think he should do about his jealousy. Use examples from your own life and the book to support your answer.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss one of the following:

1. Trace and analyze the theme of prejudice in The Finkler Question. Consider the following questions as you write: What characters are most concerned with growth? Why? What are some symbols of growth? Symbols of rigidity? What characters seem rigid?

2. Trace and analyze the theme of grief in The Finkler Question. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

3. Trace and analyze the theme of death in The Finkler Question. Which characters struggle with this issue? Why? Which characters seem to possess courage? Why?

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all novels. Discuss the following:

1. Compare/contrast the characters of Julian and Sam. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? Be specific and give examples.

2. Compare/contrast the characters of Julian and Libor. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

3. Thoroughly analyze how three of the secondary characters in The Finkler Question help drive the plot and what their contribution is to the storyline. Are any of the secondary characters unnecessary? Indispensable? Which of the secondary characters are likable? Which are either unlikable or even despicable? Be specific and give examples.

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