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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. Why do smart customers come to the barbershop early?

2. Buddy used to build up strength where?

3. Before going to the Brewitts, what does Buddy do for two days?

4. What does Lewis observe Buddy puts into his numbers?

5. Where is Buddy on a boat?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the significance of Buddy's hands in Chapter 1?

2. What is the effect of Ondaatje's sentence structures?

3. How did Buddy become obsessed with death?

4. Who does Buddy care about more: Nora or Robin?

5. Why do smart customers come to Buddy early?

6. What kind of performer is Buddy?

7. What is Buddy's relationship with Nora like?

8. What about Buddy's disappearance is confusing for Nora?

9. What does Buddy's world look like?

10. Why does Buddy return to the Brewitts at the end of Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Buddy is often a victim of his own doing. Discuss Buddy's helplessness. What is the cause of this? What role does it play?

Essay Topic 2

Buddy treads lightly with his friendships, yet destroys them simultaneously from either bad decisions of pure selfishness. Discuss the meaning of Buddy's friendships, what kind of friend he is, and his actions as a friend. Why is he so concerned? What is Buddy's most significant relationship? Why?

Essay Topic 3

The setting for Buddy's life in New Orleans is surrounded by dilapidation and depravity, although he doesn't necessarily see it this way. Discuss Buddy's evolving perception of his surroundings and what the setting adds to or reflects in the narrative.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 687 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample