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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 Lana think put the police onto her?

2. When do the Levy daughters say they will come home again?

3. Whose complexes does the psychoanalyst cure?

4. What prevents Ignatius from reaching the lower drawers?

5. What is the position that Ignatius accepts at Levy Pants?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the outside of Ignatius' and Irene's house?

2. How does Ignatius conduct the workers strike?

3. What problems does Jones have about his job as a porter?

4. What are Gus's criticisims of his wife?

5. Describe Ignatius' appearance at the beginning of the book.

6. How does the beginning of the novel immediately show Irene as an eccentric, but neurotic woman?

7. Why does Ignatius decide to accept the job at Levy Pants?

8. What does Ignatius write in The Journal of a Working Boy?

9. Describe Levy Lodge.

10. What does Chapter 1establish about Irene and Ignatius' relationship?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss whether you think this statement is true or false: "A Confederacy of Dunces is about nothing and, as such, has nothing of any importance to say about 1960's America." Use two examples from the novel to support your argument.

Essay Topic 2

The novel is set in New Orleans.

1) What meaning does New Orleans bring to the novel? What would you automatically presume about a novel that was set in New Orleans?

2) How different do you think today's New Orleans is to the New Orleans in the novel? How do you think the novel's meaning would change if it were set in today's New Orleans?

3) How do you think the setting contributes to the novel's humor?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Toole's life. In what way do you think his life and personality are reflected in the book?

(see the answer keys)

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