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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 do the Levy daughters think the Levy Pants factory is like?`

2. The sergeant dispatches Mancuso into the streets diguised as ____________.

3. Who pays for Myrna's education?

4. Mrs. Levy thinks her husband has drained her of ___________.

5. To whom does Lana ask Darlene not to talk?

Short Essay Questions

1. In what way does the porter job advertised in the bar suit both Jones and Lana?

2. How has Ignatius tried to bring peace to his house?

3. What does Myrna write in her letter?

4. Describe Mancuso's lifestyle.

5. What does Ignatius think about his new colleagues?

6. Describe Levy Lodge.

7. What excuse does Ignatius make for not selling any hot dogs?

8. Why does Ignatius claim he goes to the movies?

9. How does Jones claim the police treat blacks in New Orleans?

10. In what way is Gus Levy isolated from his family?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the effect of stereotyping. Why do the students think people stereotype? What are the negative effects of stereotyping? Are their any positive effects? In what way does Toole bypass stereotyping in A Confederacy of Dunces.

Essay Topic 2

Look at the novel's characterization. How well drawn do you think Toole's characters are? Select one of the minor characters such as Claude and discuss how much you know about his background. In what ways does Toole provide the reader with information about that character?

Essay Topic 3

Identify the main themes of the story. Why do you think these themes are so important to the story? How does Toole use character and setting to express these themes?

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