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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 does the author pretend he has won in "The Curly Kind"?

2. Why is the author uncomfortable working as Exit Elf in "Santaland Diaries"?

3. What does the narrator order at the hotel bar in "After Malison"?

4. Who is the narrator of "Season's Greetings..."?

5. What job did Sedaris hope to get on "One Life to Live" in "Santaland Diaries"?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Jocelyn Dunbar suspected of murdering Don and framing Khe Sahn in "Season's Greetings..."?

2. Describe Khe Sahn's arrival at the Dunbar home in "Season's Greetings to Our Friends and Family".

3. Describe Santa Santa in "Santaland Diaries".

4. What are the two reasons the narrator gives for boycotting Malison's reading in "After Malison"?

5. Who is Trudy Chase in "Barrel Fever"? How does the narrator react to a phone call from Trudy?

6. How does the narrator of "Barrel Fever" feel about the word "nice"? Why does he feel this way?

7. How does Jocelyn feel about her daughter's marriage to Timothy Speaks in "Season's Greetings..."? How does this compare to her feelings about her grandson, Don?

8. What disgusts the narrator of "After Malison" the most during his master's writing seminar?

9. Describe Kyle Dunbar in "Season's Greetings to Our Family and Friends".

10. Describe "the Walrus" in "Santaland Diaries".

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "Barrel Fever", David Sedaris offers a variety of wacky minor characters for the reader to enjoy. Select two of the following characters and compare and contrast them in an essay:

1) Taylor in "Firestone"

2) Aunt Margery in "We Get Along"

3) Marty in "Jamboree"

4) Gill in "Barrel Fever"

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

The titles of many of the stories in "Barrel Fever" have an ironic twist to them. Select three of the following stories and discuss how the title of each story reflects an irony presented in the story.

1) "Parade"

2) "Music for Lovers"

3) "We Get Along"

4) "Firestone"

5) "After Malison"

6) "Barrel Fever"

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

(see the answer keys)

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