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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. Who does Henry describe as intense and intelligent looking?

2. Where do Henry and Laura steal cigarettes from?

3. What nickname does Jan give Henry in this section?

4. What does Endicot do for a living?

5. Which of Henry's friends does Jan look like?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Henry break Pop's world record in the tenth section?

2. What does Henry find attractive about Jan?

3. What are the perks of Henry's new job?

4. What is Janeway Smithson's role at the Yellow Cab Company?

5. Summarize the fifth section.

6. Why does Henry suddenly become interested in clothes in the eighth section?

7. How does Henry get fired from his job as a janitor?

8. Why does Henry find the Japanese girl attractive?

9. How do Henry's glowing pants change his mindset and eventually his life situation?

10. What is Henry's attitude at his job at the Times newspaper?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author wrote FACTOTUM in the first person. Why do you think the author chose to write the story in the first person? How do you think the meaning of the story would change if the author wrote it in the third person?

Essay Topic 2

Examine the construction of Bukowski's argument.

1. How does he introduce his ideas?

2. How does he construct his ideas to come to logical conclusion?

3. What weaknesses and strengths can you identify in Bukowski's argument?

Essay Topic 3

What does Bukowski express about liberty in his novel? In what ways are Bukowski and his career an example of American liberty?

(see the answer keys)

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