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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 word is used to describe the weight of the man with the shotgun?

2. The narrator characterizes the "peculiar" (10) motion of the man with the shotgun by settling on what term?

3. After leaving her position, the bank teller begins to speak to another bank employee who is taking what action?

4. The woman in front of Anders in line looks at Anders with what type of eyes in Paragraph 9?

5. One of the robbers' comments reminds Anders of what short story?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. How does Wolff use allusion within the story?

3. What is the first turn of phrase used by the man with the pistol that interests Anders and why?

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

5. How is the motif of violence featured within the very first section of the story?

6. At what time of day does the story take place?

7. For what purpose does the man with the sawed-off shotgun put down his weapon at one point?

8. Name the violent actions taken by the man with the sawed-off shotgun.

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

10. Provide an account of the chain reaction that leads to Wolff's revelation of the story's main conflict.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the story’s use of the classical art motif. Why does Anders examine particular elements of the ceiling mural depicting Zeus and Europa, for example, and how do choices such as these dovetail with messages depicted in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Look carefully at Anders’s language use throughout the story. What is Wolff’s purpose for shaping Anders’s voice in the way that he does? For example, why does Wolff choose to have Anders make an allusion to an Ernest Hemingway story as he is remarking on the robbers’ use of language?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the instances of irony within the narrative of "Bullet in the Brain" and analyze Wolff's purpose for including each instance you discuss.

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