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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 does Ballard visit the Northolt police pound?

2. Who does Ballard call the "nightmare angel of expressways"?

3. What does Ballard note about the Lincoln Continental Vaughan drives?

4. According to Ballard, Catherine's driving becomes what after his release from the hospital?

5. Who does Ballard's wife Catherine tell him he looks like in the hospital?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Helen Remington doing at the impound yard when Ballard returns to survey the damage to his car and what does it show about her character?

2. Where does Ballard take Renata after his release from the hospital and why?

3. How does the wife of the man killed in the crash with Ballard react to the crash and why is it significant?

4. Who is with Dr. Helen Remington in the hospital and why is it significant?

5. What kind of car does Ballard buy after his accident and what does it signify?

6. What does Ballard believe Helen's motives are for making love with him at the site of the accident and what is their sex act a metaphor for?

7. Why doesn't Catherine attend the funeral for Dr. Helen Remington's husband and what does it show about her character?

8. What are Ballard's injuries from his crash with the man and his wife and how does he respond to them?

9. What dominates Ballard's thoughts as he recovers in the hospital and why is it significant?

10. How does Ballard crash his car and why is it significant?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The influence of J.G. Ballard as an avant-garde writer is well-documented. Discuss his influence within and outside of the literary community. Use secondary sources to help support your essay response.

Essay Topic 2

Automobiles play a major role in the novel. Choose 2 characters and discuss their relationship to vehicles. What is their purpose in the novel and what are they a metaphor for? Make sure to define metaphor in your discussion.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the point of view (POV) in "Crash." Define point of view and make sure to use specific examples from the book while addressing the following in the essay:

1) What is the point of view of the story?

2) What impact does the POV have on the story?

3) How would the story change with a different POV?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 832 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample