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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. What feature do both the waiter and Brandon Tartikoff notice about Don in "Don's Story"?

2. What point of view is "Parade" written in?

3. In "We Get Along", what does the narrator's mother do the night after her husband's funeral?

4. Who is Steve Dolger in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

5. What does Chad's father buy him for Christmas in "My Manuscript"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the narrator's experience with the woman on the bus in "Firestone".

2. Why does Drew react negatively after Glen shares his dreams with him in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

3. Describe Chad's father's childhood in "My Manuscript".

4. What is the tone of the story "Parade"? How does the author create this tone?

5. What perplexes Carlton about the narrator's unwillingness to correct his vision loss in "Firestone"?

6. What prompts Mr. Holt to send Chad to Mr. Chatam for guitar lessons in "My Manuscript"?

7. Contrast the story Taylor tells about his child with the actual facts about his child in "Firestone".

8. Describe The Sportsman in "We Get Along".

9. How does Chad conduct research for his book in "My Manuscript"?

10. Contrast the narrator in "Firestone" with his co-workers (Carlton and Taylor).

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Look at the ordering of the stories in the collection and write an essay:

1) describing the progression of stories in the collection, and

2) explaining why you think the author chose to order the stories in this way.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

While David Sedaris' stories are often described as sharp and cutting, they also offer a level of empathy and kindness towards their characters. Select 2 of the stories where Sedaris shows empathy and discuss how he shows kindness towards his characters. Compare and contrast the ways kindness is shown in each of these stories. Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

One of the recurrent topics in the collection of short stories "Barrel Fever" is family. Select three of the stories dealing with this topic and:

1) explain what the story says about family

2) demonstrate how the topic is developed in the story

Then explain what you think Sedaris' overall commentary on families is in the novel as a whole.

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

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