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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. At the airport, who is leaving for Puerto Rico in Chapter 12?

2. Why does Benny want to get a job in Chapter 8?

3. Who guesses that Esther could be pregnant?

4. Who does Stencil tell Profane loves him in Chapter 13?

5. What does Rachel ask Benny Profane's help in procuring that he suggests she borrow from Winsome?

Short Essay Questions

1. How is Benny Profane's "yo-yo" behavior different from that of the Whole Sick Crew?

2. Why is Fina leaving New York?

3. When Fausto changes his personality, what is the role that he assumes?

4. What is the big change Benny Profane makes in Chapter 13 regarding Rachel Owlglass?

5. Why is Stencil afraid to go to Malta?

6. How does V. appear in Chapter 9 and what does this say about her or her role?

7. What action does Mafia fail to take and what does it reveal about him and the Whole Sick Crew?

8. Why is Rachel disappointed in Benny?

9. How does fate appear to intervene in the life of Benny Profane in Chapter 8?

10. Why does Paola masquerade as Ruby?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Create a brief character study of Benny Profane. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him at this point in his life?

Essay Topic 2

Select three characters from any of the stories other than V. and project into the future ten years and write a brief synopsis for their lives. Be sure to include emotional states as well as physical characteristics, geographic locations, work, hobbies, socialization, etc.

Essay Topic 3

Politics are also referred to in the book. Pynchon refers to the politics in the German colonization of Africa in 1922. In V., the author devotes an entire chapter to this. Do you think this political story is a vital part of the book? Why or why not? Explain. How else could Pynchon incorporate politics into the book? Also examine the use of politics in relationships.

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