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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. The hot sand in Los Angeles is coming from:

2. What is Arturo's ultimate humiliation in this chapter?

3. The waitress in the Columbia Buffet initially ignores Arturo because:

4. Arturo thinks Hackmuth is brilliant because:

5. In Arturo's note he wants Camilla to understand that:

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes Arturo finally ask his mother for money?

2. Discuss the unfair discrimination Arturo experienced as a child..

3. Discuss the essence of Burt Hargraves, and its effect on Arturo Bandini.

4. Arturo tells Mrs. Hargraves that he never changes his mind. Discuss that statement and why it is ironic.

5. How is Arturo trying to appear to the waitress? What impression does he want to give her?

6. Why do Arturo and Camilla perpetuate the negativity between them?

7. Why does Arturo mention Benny Cohen in this chapter?

8. Mr. Hellfrick is an angry alcoholic who owes money to a very poor young man. Is he a bad person?

9. After his wild spending spree, Arturo rejects his new belongings. Discuss the reasons for this.

10. Arturo reveals in Chapter 2 the two things that drive him. What are they?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

So much has changed since Arthur Bandini lived in Los Angeles in 1939.

1) Identify some of the modern conveniences that Arturo did not have.

2) How might the story have changed because of these, if it had been written this year?

3) How would Arturo have approached his career in 2009?

Essay Topic 2

Camilla is a very complex character, whose condition deteriorates over the course of this story.

1) Did Arturo's involvement in her life contribute to her demise?

2) Did her relationship with Arturo lead to her mental breakdown?

3) At what points in the story do we really like Camilla?

Essay Topic 3

1) Discuss the symbolism of milk that Fante uses throughout the story. It represents many things and appears at different events in Arturo's life. Look at each of these events and determine what it is that Fante is trying to show us, using milk as a symbol.

2) What are the different characteristics of the milk in each instance?

3) What does milk represent to Arturo?

(see the answer keys)

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