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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 Dwayne believe about everyone else after reading Kilgore's novel?

2. Who is undergoing a mental collapse at the beginning of the book?

3. Why does Dwayne ignore Harry after Harry approaches him at the car dealership?

4. What does Dwayne demand from Kilgore when he first meets him?

5. What does Kilgore decide after reading what he saw written in the bathroom?

Short Essay Questions

1. in Chapter 12, what does the driver recognize as a difference between himself and Kilgore?

2. Why does Dwayne have to stand in line at his own hotel?

3. What is Kilgore's counter argument to the driver's stance on the need for conservation of natural resources?

4. What is Kilgore's reason for accepting the invitation to speak at the arts festival?

5. What does the scene between Dwayne and his pet dog, Sparky, infer about Dwayne's character?

6. What do the illustrations in Chapter 1 do for the tone of the chapter?

7. What is the reason for The Narrator saying his name is Philboyd Studge?

8. What does the message written on the bathroom wall in the pornography theater say and what is Kilgore's response to it?

9. What does Kilgore think about mirrors? What does he think they are?

10. What is the plot of the science fiction novel Kilgore comes up with while watching films at the pornography theatre?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The two main protagonists of Breakfast of Champions, Kilgore Trout and Dwayne Hoover, have had tumultuous relationships throughout their lives beginning in childhood and moving on into their adulthood. Assess the two characters, based on their relationships with others, and conclude whether they are, in fact, similar to one another or foils.

Essay Topic 2

During their drive, the truck driver tells Kilgore about a book he read (which turns out to be by Kilgore) involving a roulette wheel that determines the value of art. How does the plot of this book play into the plot of Breakfast of Champions? Is there a connection? Support your answer with specific examples from the text.

Essay Topic 3

Throughout the novel, numerous coincidences are mentioned linking characters, places and events. Describe several of these coincidences and argue whether they are significant to the narrative, or trivial. How do they affect the narrative? How do they affect characters? Do they not affect anything at all? Use specific examples from the text to support your answer.

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