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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 "fear of" what is said to course through Tom Benecke's "nerves and muscles" (39) at one point in the narrative?

2. Tom Benecke estimates that it will be at least how long before Clare Benecke arrives back to their apartment?

3. When Tom Benecke imagines himself falling, he sees what object getting caught and causing his demise?

4. The theater sign Tom Benecke sees below him is said to be "blocks ahead past" (29) what street?

5. For what reason does Tom Benecke put his shoe back on after it fails to shatter the window?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Finney's purpose for allowing Tom Benecke's shouts for help to go unanswered?

2. In what manner does Tom Benecke find the yellow sheet of paper?

3. What conclusion does Tom Benecke reach about the act of looking down?

4. What is Tom Benecke's estimate about when his wife Clare Benecke will likely return home?

5. What is Tom Benecke's reaction when he looks down?

6. What element of the movement inside Tom Benecke's apartment shocks him?

7. For what reasons does Tom Benecke finally decide that he cannot possibly wait on the ledge until Clare Benecke returns home?

8. Tom Benecke decides in Paragraph 31 that he must not faint. What method does he employ to attain this aim?

9. What causes Tom Benecke to smile even though he is still in peril?

10. How is the motif of the carnivalesque apparent within Tom Benecke's image of what he will do when he regains access to his apartment?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a critical essay about "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" while using the critical power theory lens of feminist theory. Use textual evidence to back up your strong, specific claim regarding the story's treatment of gender roles, the objectification of women, female empowerment, or any other issues related to feminist theory that can be found in the story.

Essay Topic 2

Explicate the theme of blind ambition within "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket." What is Finney's message regarding ambition that comes at any cost and how do you know?

Essay Topic 3

Research the 1950s in relation to the business world and create a claim linking the historical context of the story "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" with one of its main messages.

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This section contains 990 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample