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. Where does Wallace's Celebrity Cruise start?

2. Why can people smoke at the Canadian Open?

3. What advertising logo is hung around the Canadian Open?

4. What about the Dreamward catches Wallace's eye?

5. What does Wallace see Joyce's criticism of Brakus as?

Short Essay Questions

1. Does Wallace respond to the Celebrity Cruise brochure the way the brochure intends? Why?

2. How does Wallace feel about Conroy's Celebrity Cruise essay?

3. What does Wallace feel elderly people and the cruise ship have in common? Does he feel these two are an appropriate pairing?

4. Why does Wallace explain Michael Joyce to the reader?

5. Why does Wallace sit alone at breakfast on the cruise ship?

6. Does Wallace get seasick? Why or why not?

7. In terms of irony, why does Wallace appreciate Lynch's films?

8. Why is the stadium at Joyce's qualifying match relatively empty?

9. How does Wallace anticipate he will be treated on the cruise ship? Why does he think this?

10. Why does Wallace time his absences from his cabin?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In several essays, Wallace discusses his experience in tennis and his fondness for the sport. He often likens it to other activities and concepts, making it appear that it is an integral part of him although he doesn't play anymore. Discuss what tennis represents to Wallace and how it thematically aids the collection of essays. What is it to represent?

Essay Topic 2

Wallace at times is in awe of the nature of the world. At the State Fair, he admires the strong sense of community; in discussing Lynch, he praises his artistic vision; on the cruise, he admires the efficiency and luxury. However, he often begins to criticize the weakness of these things. Discuss how Wallace's shifts his opinion, what inspires this, and the experience for the reader.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 764 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample