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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. How much money does Ignatius find in his bed?

2. Whose new film do the women discuss?

3. What would Ignatius prefer to a psychiatric ward?

4. What does Mrs. Levy plan to establish?

5. Who would Jones like to find?

Short Essay Questions

1. What complaints does Clyde have about Ignatius' work in Chapter 9?

2. What is Clyde's reaction to seeing the newspaper article?

3. Describe Dorian and Ignatius' fight.

4. In what way has Mancuso benefited from the raid at the Night and Day bar?

5. What is Ignatius' opinion on psychiatry?

6. Why does Ignatius want to create a political party centered around old sodomites?

7. What does Ignatius write in his Social Note journal in chapter nine?

8. What characters does Ignatius think have caused his downfall?

9. Why does Claude not want to see Mancuso?

10. Why is Gus looking forward to escaping to Florida?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare the Consolation of Philosophy to the novel. What comparisons can be drawn between A Confederacy of Dunces and the Consolation of Philosophy? Why do they think Ignatius uses Boethius' as a reference point?

Essay Topic 2

Examine Toole's humor. What meaning does it give to the novel? What would the story be like without humor? Does it have any dramatic impact? Does the humor cover any deficiencies, for example, in the plot structure?

Essay Topic 3

Toole lived in New Orleans with his mother, adhering to the rule that writers should always write about what they know. Do you think it is obvious that Toole knows his subject? What difference do you think it makes to the story? Are there any moments where you think Toole does not portray a character or setting so well? What effect does it have on the story?

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