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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 Laura say Willie throws at them when they get drunk?

2. What is the name of Henry's new landlady?

3. What is Gertrude's room full of?

4. What are Grace and Jerry drinking in the kitchen?

5. Where does Henry sleep the night?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Henry's job in the ladies dress shop.

2. How does Willie's death affect the girls?

3. Describe Willie Oxnard's house?

4. What does Henry do while his parents are away?

5. What bet does Henry make in the opening chapter?

6. Why does Willie like Henry?

7. Why does Henry decide it is time to go back to Los Angeles?

8. Summarize the fourth section.

9. What does Henry promise himself in the fourth section?

10. Describe Henry's first two days in New York.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Bukowski represent alcoholism in his novel? How does Chinaski's habit affect his daily life? What kind of person would Chinaski have been without the alcoholism?

Essay Topic 2

Pick two characters from the book and discuss his or her goals and motives. Do they achieve their motives? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 3

How did Bukowski view the post war society? What impact has his writing had on literature? Has his impact been mainly positive or mainly negative?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 605 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample