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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. Why does the narrator of "Firestone" give a woman on the bus his sneakers?

2. Why does the narrator of "Firestone" refuse to have his eyes operated on?

3. Where does Glen park while shopping at Food Carnival in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

4. What is found in the bathroom of a Sunoco station in "Firestone"?

5. In "My Manuscript", what quality does Mrs. Peacock have that she says makes her a "housekeeper" instead of a "maid"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What insults does the narrator of "The Last You'll Hear From Me" hurl at Annette and Randy?

2. In "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter", why is Drew having difficulty in his psychology class? What does Glen offer to do to help Drew?

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

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

5. In "We Get Along", what do the narrator and his mother do late at night? Why?

6. Describe the narrator of "The Last You'll Hear From Me".

7. Describe the narrator of "Parade"'s relationship with Bruce Springsteen (from his perspective).

8. Describe a typical first date for the "old" version of the narrator of "Parade".

9. Describe the narrator's imaginary nightclub act in "Music for Lovers".

10. How does the narrator of "Parade" describe Patrick Buchanan?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The final four pieces in "Barrel Fever" are listed as "essays". In your essay,

1) describe the qualities that an essay typically has,

2) discuss how two of these pieces fit the genre of essay, and

3) discuss how two of these pieces present a unique take on the genre of essay.

Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

In many of the stories in "Barrel Fever", Sedaris uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to make points. Select 3 of the stories in which the author uses hyperbole and:

1) describe the ways in which hyperbole is used in the stories,

2) compare and contrast the use of hyperbole in each story, and

3) discuss the impact of hyperbole on the reader's experience of the stories.

Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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