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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. Which of the following characters is not present in the meeting at the beginning of Chapter 16?

2. With which tertiary character does Fallow recall having a fight at Leicester's?

3. What aspect of the Henry Lamb story does Reverend Bacon want to receive more coverage?

4. What does Kramer tell Lubel he needs for the Lamb case to move forward?

5. What does Kramer see as he approaches the Bronx in Chapter 13?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Reverend Bacon.

2. Describe Sherman McCoy's history with Freddy Button.

3. What do Maria and Sherman ultimately decide to do regarding the Bronx car incident?

4. What does Sherman realize about Maria during their conversation in Chapter 11?

5. Describe the speech Lord Buffing makes.

6. Why does Sherman McCoy have to go to the toilet at his firm to read the newspaper?

7. What do Detectives Martin and Goldberg discover at the parking garage by Sherman's building?

8. In Chapter 13, what are Sherman's thoughts about telling Judy the truth?

9. Why do the McCoys rent a car to go to the Bavardages party?

10. How do the Brits at Leicester's generally pay their tabs?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The world of Bonfire of the Vanities does not often reward the good and honest, but several characters are pragmatic and ultimately honest. Write an essay about these characters. What do they understand about the system that allows them to function in it without losing their souls? What do they achieve in their work? Are they ultimately rewarded?

Part 1) Detectives Martin and Goldberg

Part 2) Bernie Fitzgibbon

Part 3) Tommy Killian

Essay Topic 2

As life becomes more complicated and precarious for Sherman McCoy, fewer and fewer supportive people in his life offer him assistance. This is a shame, because those who are not connected to the case are the most sensible and honest around him, his family. Write an essay about the three truth-tellers in his family. How does Sherman lose each of them? How do each of them serve in some way as his conscience?

Part 1) Judy McCoy

Part 2) Sherman's Father

Part 3) Campbell McCoy

Essay Topic 3

Bonfire of the Vanities is often compared with a Dickens novel in its satirical expose of the realities of urban life and its attention to the social strata of a city. Wolfe also uses a Dickens device of naming his characters in ways that reflect their essence. Write an essay about the way Wolf uses names to develop plot. Focus both on personality and action in analyzing the purpose of a character's name:

Part 1) Peter Fallow

Part 2) Reverend Bacon

Part 3) Caroline Heftshank or Sally Rawthrote

(see the answer keys)

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