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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. Arturo is especially arrogant now because:

2. Arturo made sure that his story was placed:

3. Why does Arturo consider the prostitute to be cleaner than he is?

4. Mrs. Hargraves makes Arturo feel:

5. In Los Angeles, Arturo is:

Short Essay Questions

1. Discuss Camilla's new white shoes.

2. Why does Arturo portray himself as such a patriotic American?

3. In their final exchange of insults for this chapter, Camilla forces Arturo into kissing her. Discuss the significance of the kiss.

4. Why is Arturo Bandini so mean and insulting to the Mexican waitress?

5. Why does Arturo buy and eat this enormous number of oranges?

6. What makes Chapter 2 comical, if anything?

7. Why does Arturo give Mrs. Hargraves an extra five dollars with his rent payment?

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

9. Why does Camilla pull a frightening trick on Arturo at the beach?

10. How does Arturo survive his deep depression and low self-worth?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

Arturo has some profound revelations as he searches in vain for Camilla in the vast desert.

1) Discuss what Arturo deduces about nature as it relates to humans.

2) What is the symbolism of searching in the desert for a person like Camilla?

3) How does Arturo make peace with losing Camilla for good? Is it a healthy way to say goodbye to her? Why, or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,059 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample