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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. Which player does Wallace explain is the most famous of the contemporary power baseline players?

2. What was surprising to Wallace about his cruise assignment?

3. Wallace imagines being on a cruise ship as similar to being where?

4. Wallace describes an exchange between the hero and the villain in "Blue Velvet." What is Lynch showing the audience through this scene?

5. What does Wallace realize about the brochure for the cruise when he boards the ship?

Short Essay Questions

1. When the ship docks in Cozumel, Mexico, why doesn't Wallace get off the ship?

2. Does Wallace believe he could have been a great tennis player? Why or why not?

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

4. Why doesn't Wallace leave his cabin on the cruise ship?

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

6. What is Ellery supposed to represent?

7. Why doesn't Wallace participate in many of the activities on the ship?

8. Does Wallace give credit to Lynch's critics? What is his opinion of them?

9. Does Lynch's ex-wife have any role in the film? What is her relation to "Lost Highway"?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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.

Essay Topic 2

Two of Wallace's essays in the collection discuss his experiences while on writing assignments. Discuss how these essays differ from the other essays and arguments. How does Wallace approach assignments? How does it shape the way he writes?

Essay Topic 3

Wallace rarely discusses minor figures: most are successful and famous. However, he focuses on the person's struggle with this status and desires. Discuss Wallace's view of celebrity. Why does Wallace focus on these? What is the objective? What is the affect on the reader? What is displayed through his discussions of fame, struggle, and failure?

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