1. 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?

2. Who is Jamboree in "Jamboree"? How does the narrator feel about him?

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

4. What theme joins the four scenarios in "The Curly Kind"?

5. What does the narrator of "Giantess" expect his fellow workers to do as they are waiting in the apartment of an extremely rich client? What do they actually do?

6. What does the narrator's mother give him before she dies in "Barrel Fever"? Why does she give him this gift?

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

8. Describe Marty Jr.'s appearance in "Jamboree".

9. What does the narrator do to Marty's motorcycle in "Jamboree"? Who does Marty believe is responsible for the damages?

10. Which elf duty is the narrator's least favorite in "Santaland Diaries"? Why does he feel this way?

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 satirizes popular culture. Select 2 of the stories in which the author uses satire and:

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

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

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

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

Essay Topic 3

One of the themes in the collection of short stories "Barrel Fever" is that of reality versus fantasy. Select three of the stories dealing with this theme and:

1) explain what the story says about reality and fantasy, and

2) demonstrate how the theme is developed in the story.

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

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

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,018 words
(approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page)

View a FREE sample