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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 does the staff of the restaurant give Peter Fallow after Arthur Ruskin's body is removed?

2. According to Roland, which part of his body does Henry think is broken?

3. How does Sherman characterize Quigley's plan to get Maria to confess?

4. Who does Judge Kovitsky request come to his chambers in addition to Kramer and Killian?

5. What were Henry and Roland doing when Henry was hit by the Mercedes, according to Roland?

Short Essay Questions

1. What information do Martin's two crack dealers offer regarding the McCoy case?

2. What aspects of Sherman McCoy's life are disrupted by the Henry Lamb case?

3. How does Larry Kramer characterize Roland Auburn in Chapter 19?

4. As Kramer is interviewing Maria Ruskin, what does he realize he loves about his job?

5. In what way does Shelly Thomas disagree with Kramer about the McCoy case?

6. Describe the scene at the Criminal Court at the end of Chapter 31.

7. Why does Judge Kovisky decide to bring Sherman to his chambers along with the attorneys?

8. Which of Killian's promises are broken during his arrest?

9. What happens to the Lamb family at the end of the novel?

10. What story does the City Light run as a result of Fallow's meeting with Arthur Ruskin?

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

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

Essay Topic 3

Bonfire of the Vanities can be viewed as a modern morality tale in which a man without a soul - Sherman McCoy - is given one by a process of attrition. All the earthly pleasures he enjoys are stripped from him until he is rendered a man. Write an essay about Sherman McCoy's redemption:

Part 1) Analyze Sherman McCoy's processing the day he turns himself in. What does he lose and what does he experience? What is his reaction the the proceedings?

Part 2) How does Sherman McCoy's kicking Pollard Browning out of his condo reflect a shift in his personality? What has changed?

Part 3) Describe the Sherman McCoy described in the Epilogue. How is this Sherman different from the Sherman we meet at the beginning of the novel?

(see the answer keys)

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