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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 Mencken identify as the father of chiropractic?

2. Mencken has what criticism for "new poets"?

3. What is the contemporary invention that Mencken likes most?

4. Which is NOT one of the benefits Mencken sees should America put into place his ideas in "Utopian Flights"?

5. Who does Mencken identify as the founder of Christian Science?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mencken believe about chiropractors?

2. Why does Mencken criticize the American Medical Association? What is his opinion of doctors as a professional class?

3. Summarize Mencken's views on William Dean Howells.

4. What is Mencken's belief about American millionaires?

5. What memorable position does Mencken take on opera?

6. What does Mencken feel is the contemporary state of psychology? How does he feel about Freudianism?

7. How does Mencken compare socialism to capitalism? Include the Bolshevik Revolution in your response.

8. What should poetry ideally be, according to Mencken? What makes for a good poem? And how does taste in poetry reflect upon a person's qualities?

9. What does Mencken believe about contemporary new inventions? Mention the telephone as well as the thermostat in your response.

10. Describe the following under the category of what Mencken calls "'The Lesser Arts": a) oil painting, b) drama.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast Mencken's view of the American South, pre-Civil War versus post-Civil War. Include defining characteristics, form of government, qualities of people, culture, wealth, and anything else you feel is relevant to the discussion.

Essay Topic 2

1) Make the distinction between maxims, epigrams, and apothegms. How were these literary devices used by Mencken? How do they fit his tone and perspective as an author? What did Mencken accomplish with them?

2) Evaluate the following entry: "Q: If you find so much that is unworthy of reverence in the United States, then why do you live here? A: Why do men go to zoos?" How is this entry indicative of Mencken's tone as an author? How is it indicative of his worldview and general view of humanity?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the Chapter 29 "buffoonery" in which Mencken portrays a dialogue involving Pharoah Cheops.

1) Summarize the "plot" and premise of the story.

2) Discuss how the story relates to contemporary concerns.

3) Speculate as to why Mencken may have used Pharaoh Cheops and his world to comment on contemporary issues. What does Mencken accomplish by commentary designed in this fashion?

(see the answer keys)

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