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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 Jocelyn repeatedly yell at Khe Sahn in "Season's Greetings..."?

2. Which of the following is NOT a topic of discussion when the narrator works renovating an apartment?

3. What do the siblings find in sealed boxes after their mother dies in "Barrel Fever"?

4. What is the title of the magazine the narrator's sister gives him in "Giantess"?

5. Who is Cassandra Lane in "After Malison"?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What do IV and PCD stand for in "Barrel Fever"? What is the significance of these acronyms for the narrator?

4. Describe Dolph's confrontation with Alicia Cunningham in "Barrel Fever".

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

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

7. What story does the narrator of "Giantess" think he and Lili should tell the man whose plate they broke?

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

9. 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?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Each of the stories in "Barrel Fever" has its own unique narrator. Select 4 of the stories and:

1) describe the narrator of each story,

2) discuss the role the narrator plays in the story, and

3) examine the ways the narrator influences how the reader experiences the story.

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

Essay Topic 2

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.

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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