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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. The man with the pistol presses it to whose neck?

2. The women in front of Anders take what action when they see the bank teller having a conversation with another bank employee?

3. What phrase does the man with the pistol use in order to tell Anders to be quiet?

4. The man with the pistol calls Anders what kind of "boy" (14)?

5. What adjective is used to describe the line Anders faces when he gets to the bank?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the man with the sawed-off shotgun do with his weapon when he needs both hands to complete a different task?

2. Describe the first physical contact one of the robbers makes with Anders.

3. What two-word name does the man with the pistol call Anders?

4. What evidence suggests that the robbers are indeed following a script of sorts throughout the robbery?

5. In what way is Anders shown to be hypocritical within the opening scene of the story?

6. Discuss a moment in the story that reveals who is in charge of the bank robbery.

7. How does Anders invoke the idea of justice within the scene of the robbery?

8. How does the theme of social status or class come into play within the story?

9. What evidence points to the conclusion that Wolff wants the reader to view Anders's actions as selfish?

10. What is the first question the man with the pistol asks Anders and what is Anders's reply?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Could "Bullet in the Brain" be classified as a horror story? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

William Faulkner once famously claimed that the most important literature deals with the subject of the human heart in conflict with itself. Explain how the theme of Human versus Self is demonstrated within Wolff’s story “Bullet in the Brain.” Create a decisive, arguable claim and prove it with quotes from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the interplay between the resolution of Wolff’s story "Bullet in the Brain" and one of the story's main messages. How does Wolff make connections between these elements and how does their juxtaposition help Wolff get across one main message of the story?

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This section contains 1,018 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample