View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. To whom is "Buzz him in" said in Paragraph 10?

2. As the bank teller speaks to another bank employee, she takes what stance?

3. In which direction does the man with the shotgun pass the shotgun when he gives it to the other bank robber?

4. To what part of the guard's body does the man with the shotgun strike a blow?

5. Who looks at the misplaced bank teller after someone asks the question, "Whose slot is that" (11)?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the first command the man with the pistol gives to Anders and how does Anders respond?

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

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

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

5. What is the main conflict at the center of the story and who is involved in that conflict?

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

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

8. Contrast Anders's reaction to the bank robbery with the reaction of the woman in front of Anders in line.

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Write a critical essay about "Bullet in the Brain" while using the critical power theory lens of Marxist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the story's treatment of issues such as socioeconomic status, hierarchies, wealth, class, or any other issues related to Marxist theory that can be found in the short story.

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.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 997 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample