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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 happens to Ignatius in this chapter when he gets angry?

2. To whom is Jones too frightened to talk?

3. Whose music is being played on the phonograph?

4. What is the headline on the newspaper?

5. How much of Ignatius' money is missing?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Ignatius react to Myrna's presence?

2. Summarize Chapter 8.

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

4. How does Annie react to the newspaper article?

5. What does Myrna write in her letter in Chapter 9?

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

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

8. Why does Ignatius think the Ladies' Auxiliary will be an important addition to his movement?

9. How do the characters react to Claude's aggression towards Mancuso in Chapter 8?

10. Summarize Chapter 9.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the values of 1960's.

1) Why were student politics so important at that time ?

2) In what ways are the characters a product of their time? What significant changes do you think occurred during this period?

3)Does today's society share any values with 1960's America?

Essay Topic 2

Look at Toole's only other book, Tthe Neon Bible. What is it about? What themes does it share with A Confederacy of Dunces? Does it have a similar writing style? Does it have a similar structure?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure; Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main character Ignatius examine the way Toole uses the other characters in the story. Does she use him or her for dramatic effect or comic aside? When does she introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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