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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 Henry think about when he listens to Debussy?

2. How does Nanantatee irritate Henry?

3. If Emerson is correct in saying that life consists of what a man thinks, what is Henry at this point?

4. How does Henry picture Serge's lazy slut of a wife?

5. What is the movie playing at the Cine Combat?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Henry define health that he equates with optimism?

2. What does Serge promise in lieu of a big Russian meal each day?

3. In an attempt to get money, what is Henry unable to do?

4. Why does Henry like eating with the Cronstadts the best?

5. What does Henry say about his escape from Serge?

6. Why does Henry go so often to the American Express office?

7. What does Elsa say bout the Englishman upstairs playing Bach?

8. How does Henry use sarcasm in describing Nanantatee's lavish apartment?

9. What is the scene at the beginning of the novel and how does it set up the condition Henry is in while in Paris?

10. Why does Henry leave the apartment when Boris sits down to eat?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Hustling and conning people are important themes of the novel. Using examples from the novel, discuss how it is human nature to be deceitful to get what you want or simply to survive. Discuss any personal experience you have had similar to the events Henry writes about.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper about how the French surrealists influenced Miller's work. Use two or three of the surreal dreams or day dreams in the book to illustrate your point. How do some of those passages sound like an early encounter with the Twilight Zone.

Essay Topic 3

Henry quotes Emerson as saying that life consists of what one thinks. Write an essay explaining how you interpret Emerson's statement. Use examples you know of personally or have read about where people achieved because of their focus on certain goals.

(see the answer keys)

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