View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Sabine and Parsifal's marriage was one of ________________.

2. What do Sabine's parents advise her to do regarding Parsifal's parents?

3. What food does the family order out for supper?

4. What is included in a letter that Dot sends to Sabine?

5. Dot had told Kitty that Parsifal had ___________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Sabine feel that she cannot stay in the big house any longer?

2. What does Phan tell Sabine about Parsifal coming around when he returns to her in a dream?

3. What shocking information does Sabine receive from Parsifal's attorney, Roger?

4. Describe Dot's visit at the cemetery.

5. Why did Parsifal leave home at an early age never to return?

6. How does The Magician's Assistant begin?

7. Why does Sabine make the decision to visit the Fetters family?

8. What thought comforts Sabine when her small plane experiences turbulence and she thinks she may die?

9. Why does Sabine give Roger permission to call Parsifal's family and why does she not think they will contact her?

10. What does Sabine note about the Fetters' fitting in their Nebraska environment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What is the significance of the book's title? What are some other possible titles for the book. List at least five and cite your reasons for each.

Essay Topic 2

THE MAGICIAN'S ASSISTANT is a classic story of loss and renewal. What does that classification entail? Why does this novel fit into this category? Explain.

Essay Topic 3

Denial seems to be almost an unnamed character in the book. How pervasive is the sense of denial? Why does it have such a prevalent place in the lives of the characters? Explain how an inanimate object or characteristic can be a character.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 961 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample