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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 is the name of the poem that ends "November Concluded?"

2. After Thompson's encounter with Mankiewicz, how does the author's friend recommend they defuse the situation?

3. Why must Thompson strictly adhere to the schedule set forth by the Rolling Stone?

4. How does Thompson balance his frantic writing with the long periods of boredom in "November?"

5. When Thompson refers to "the American Dream," what class does he posit has the most at stake in believing in that ideal?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does the book turn into a series of dialogues and monologues after Chapter 11?

2. Why does the public find Mankowiecz so unsettling?

3. Why is Thompson in such a dark mood in "October?"

4. Why did Ron Ziegler become Nixon's PR man?

5. How does Eagleton affect McGovern's campaign run?

6. How does Thompson describe the varying roles of and attitudes toward professional speech writers?

7. What are Thompson's opinions on what Americans want from their leaders?

8. In what ways is Thompson introducing new readers to the world of politics?

9. What does Thompson mean when he says American politics are based on "perception and reality?"

10. Why is Thompson the "rock-n-roll emissary" for politics?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In what ways are Hunter S. Thompson's encounters throughout this book indicative of the class struggles in America in 1972? How is Thompson regarded in terms of class? How does this affect his writing? In what ways are these class struggles particularly apparent in the meet-and-greets with different constituents?

Essay Topic 2

How does Hunter S. Thompson feel about politicians? How do politicians generally feel about Thompson? In what way is Thompson's outsider status as a writer for the counter-culture immediately setting him up as an adversary to all politicians? How does this affect his relationship to the Muskie campaign, as well as the McGovern campaign? Why does Frank Mankiewicz attack Thompson? How does all of this figure into Thompson's later declaration that he is going to run for the Senate?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the relationship between politicians and journalists in the following format:

Part 1) How journalists feel about politicians.

Part 2) How politicians feel about journalists.

Part 3) Thompson's opinions on politicians.

Part 4) Thompson's encounters with the politicians, especially Nixon.

Part 5) The Zoo Plane and its exclusivity.

Part 6) Thompson and Mankiewicz.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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