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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. Why can’t Mr. Spinell describe the beautiful woman he saw?

2. Why is Mr. Spinell at Einfried?

3. How does Mr. Spinell react to Gabriele?

4. What room at Einfried is adjacent to the sitting room?

5. What is the writer’s name described as sounding like?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the vein do to Gabriele Kloterjahn’s countenance?

2. What seems to be Dr. Leander’s opinion of Mr. Spinell?

3. Why are specific cases in particular Dr. Muller’s responsibility?

4. What are some of the activities that the patients occupy themselves with?

5. What does Mr. Spinell spend most of his time doing?

6. Why doesn’t the sanitarium restrict its business to consumptive patients?

7. How does Mrs. Kloterjahn seem to feel about Mr. Spinell?

8. When is Mr. Spinell sociable?

9. Why doesn’t Dr. Leander consult with Dr. Muller on Gabriele’s case?

10. How does Mr. Spinell act towards Gabriele Kloterjahn?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Mr. Spinell believes that only he, and not Mr. Kloterjahn, understands Gabriele. Why does he believe this? Does Gabriele seem to have the same understanding of their relationship as Mr. Spinell? How does Mann characterize the relationship between Mr. and Mrs. Kloterjahn? Who, in the end, really understands her?

Essay Topic 2

Wagner’s opera Tristan und Isolde plays an important role in the novella, as does music in general.Why did Mann choose this particular musical piece for the climactic scene in the novella? What does it add to the story? How do the piece, and the climactic scene in general, shape Mr. Spinell’s relationship with Gabriele Kloterjahn? Why is music so important in the novella?

Essay Topic 3

At Einfried, most of the patients are tubercular. What significance does tuberculosis have for the novella? Why did Mann choose this particular disease to inflict on Gabriele Kloterjahn? How does the disease relate to Mann’s interpretation of the concepts of art and the artist? How does the story arc correspond to the progression of Gabriele’s illness?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 574 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample