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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. How does Paul begin seeing Cantwell?

2. Why does Paul head to Monaco?

3. In Paul's sexual life, what two oppositions does he battle with?

4. Why does Paul believe his friends encourage him to go into interior decorating?

5. What is most different about Paul after his one night stand with the Navy man?

Short Essay Questions

1. Paul has a dream that his penis unscrews likes a light bulb and he is unable to get it back on. How does this sum up Paul's life at the time?

2. How does Yale fit into the 60's counterculture? How does Paul fit into the counter-culture?

3. Why does Paul's self-esteem go up when the French soldiers cheer him on?

4. Why does Paul relate to Coward's work Song at Twilight?

5. Paul has several ideas concerning love. According to Paul, love allows a person to do what? What is needed from a person the deeper love gets?

6. How does Paul react to Bill's death?

7. What moment does Paul finally get that is comparable to the Andover jocks that tease Mr. Nindle? How does Paul react to it?

8. How does Paul view his autobiographical reading? What does he get from it?

9. How does Paul feel about graduation time at Yale?

10. How does Paul respond to his first attempt at therapy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the different theories Paul Monette mentions in regards to homosexuality. What do the essentialists believe? What do the constructivists believe? What is the anti-theory? Which theory does Paul follow and why?

Essay Topic 2

What is the purpose of writing "Becoming a Man:Half a Life Story?" What does Paul hope his readers will understand and get from his autobiography?

Essay Topic 3

Paul grows up in a middle class family but earns privileges with scholarships to Philips Academy and Yale. Explain how Paul's taste for life changes from his middle class Andover background.

(see the answer keys)

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