View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Why does Lynch urinate on trees in the middle of Los Angeles while filming "Lost Highway"?

2. According to Wallace, why does watching television beget more television?

3. What word does Wallace use to define "Lynchian"?

4. Why did Wallace have a more difficult time playing tennis in New England?

5. According to Wallace, why do Midwesterners take their vacations to be around people?

Short Essay Questions

1. Was Wallace a "boring" tennis player? How so?

2. According to Wallace, are commercials self-aware? What is the effect of this on the viewer?

3. Why was Wallace assigned to the Illinois State Fair article for Harper's?

4. What does Wallace observe as ironic in television? Does he see this as detrimental? How?

5. Does the plot of "Lost Highway" make sense? Is it supposed to make sense?

6. As a child, what did Wallace believe the purpose of carnivals was?

7. According to Wallace, what tendencies does television appeal to? Who is television's target?

8. Does Wallace's visit to the stockyard barns affect Wallace at all? Why or why not?

9. According to Wallace, what is a "Kmart Person"?

10. What caused Lynch's downfall in the movie industry?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the essay "David Lynch Keeps His Head," Wallace discusses his views on Lynch's career and artistic vision. Discuss how using David Lynch Wallace responds to his earlier, broader commentary on American media.

Essay Topic 2

Wallace discusses the use of irony mainly when discussing television and entertainment and criticizes it as being detrimental. Discuss Wallace's definition of irony and the detriments and benefits it has for art. What is Wallace's definition and objective with his argument? How does Wallace see irony differently?

Essay Topic 3

In the essay "Getting Away From pretty Much Being Away From It All," Wallace is on assignment in his home state of Illinois. Through his exploration of the State Fair, Wallace's Eastern and Midwestern identities are brought into question and clashes between the two arise. Discuss what Wallace finds about himself and the regions as being a once native, now outsider.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 851 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample