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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 destroys the temple?

2. What does Ellen Cherry say is the problem with New York artists?

3. The only time we see Buddy at home, what is he doing that is unusual for him?

4. Who has a voice like a saxophone?

5. What is Ellen Cherry's first job out of art school?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Turn Around Norman's Activity. How is it important in the novel?

2. At the end of this section, Buddy avoids getting a speeding ticket by using his saxophone voice and preaching to the police officer. Is this realistic and why do you think Robbins includes it in the story?

3. Why do you think that Ellen Cherry covers a nude portrait of Boomer with tongues?

4. What are the the origins of Spike Cohen's foot fetish?

5. Describe the sculpture that Boomer is bringing to Jerusalem to reassemble.

6. Why does Boomer turn an airstream into a Turkey?

7. Can 'o Beans says that "imprecise speech is one of the major causes of mental illness in human beings." What do you think is meant by this?

8. What are some ways you can interpret Boomer's spy coat sculpture in which he declares his love for Ellen Cherry in a 500 different encoded messages?

9. What do you think Robbins is saying by personifying objects and having them secretly move?

10. Describe why Boomer says he feels guilty about his success as an artist.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are definitely two different worlds in this novel. There is the human world and the object world. The object world, of course, is totally aware of and even engaged in the human world, but the opposite is not true. Explore the different qualities of these two worlds. In what ways, if any, do the objects actually influence or impact the course of events in the human world? Are there any features or aspects of the two worlds that clearly differentiate them from each other?

Essay Topic 2

Explore the significance of Isaac and Ishmael's. Describe the symbolism of the restaurant as well as it's political implications. The narrator talks a lot about this in the fourth veil, when the restaurant is introduced. Include this information, but don't limit your discussion to it. You may also want to consider the significance of Spike and Abu's backgrounds and characters.

Essay Topic 3

Compare the two stories of Salome. How does the ancient version of Salome compare to the modern version? The ancient Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils in exchange for John the Baptist's head on a plate. The modern Salome dances in response to Ellen Cherry's mural during the Super Bowl.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,219 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample