Confessions of Zeno | Short Essay Assignments

Short Essay Questions

The 60 short essay questions listed in this section require a one to two sentence answer. They ask students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the text. Students must describe what they've read, rather than just recall it.

Short Essay Question - Preamble and Chapter 1, Smoke

1. What does the doctor apologize for in the preface? Why?

2. Who asked Zeno to write his own autobiography? Why?

3. Why does the doctor say he published Zeno's memoirs?

4. Where does Zeno get his first cigarette, and how does he describe the first cigarettes he ever smoked?

5. What two events does Zeno say stopped him from stealing?

6. Why did Zeno become upset with the doctor who had the electricity machine?