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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. Why does Mencken praise doctors in Chapter 16?

2. According to Chapter 16, which political system is responsible for the majority of civilization as we know it?

3. Which classical composer could not "write for the mob"?

4. Which author does Mencken believe is for "lunch-table idealists"?

5. What point does Mencken make by bringing up an 84-year-old man he knew in Chapter 21?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. Why does Mencken make mention of Sister Aimee? Who was Sister Aimee, and what was Mencken's opinion of her?

5. Summarize Mencken's account of a Jack Dempsey boxing match.

6. What is Mencken's opinion of Prohibition? What was its effect on society?

7. Why does Mencken make mention of Charles Joseph Bonaparte? Who was Bonaparte, and what was Mencken's opinion of him?

8. Summarize Mencken's views on inspiration, as recounted in Chapter 25.

9. 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?

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) Discuss Mencken's thoughts on death and suicide. What is the popular misconception of death? What is the use of suicide, and why might people refrain from committing it?

2) Discuss Mencken's thoughts on death and suicide in the context of a) his view of human nature in general, and b) his view on religion. How do these viewpoints inform one another?

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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