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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 is Miller addicted to doing?

2. Miller reads what without prejudice in Part 3, "Paradise Lost"?

3. What does Moricand obtain by mail from Switzerland in Part 3, "Paradise Lost"?

4. What Egyptian wants to be Miller's valet to survive in materialistic America?

5. Who typifies the lone-American type, filled with the spirit of the wilderness, according to Miller?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Miller learn of Moricand's death?

2. What are the similarities and differences between Conrad Moricand and Henry Miller?

3. What is Miller's wife's reaction to Conrad Moricand? How does Moricand's first impression fade?

4. How does Miller work to solicit money for Conrad Moricand during their friendship?

5. How does Miller describe Slade's Springs in the text?

6. What does Moricand complain about after meeting with Wharton in Part 3, Paradise Lost?

7. How does Miller describe his walk home from the sulfur baths in the Epilogue?

8. How does Miller come to invite Moricand to Big Sur in the novel?

9. What happens when Moricand attempts to find work after leaving Big Sur? What attempts are made to help him?

10. How does Miller describe his "addiction" to writing letters in the Epilogue?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the process of Dianetics. Where in the text does Miller employ this? What are his associations with Dianetics?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the paintings of Hieronymus Bosch. What is significant about these to Miller and why does he choose to cite the artist in his title?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the setting of the novel. What makes Big Sur unique as an artist's retreat? What is significant about the time period of the setting to the novel's major themes?

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