View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Bortz hands Oedipa an ancient book about the _________ travels of Dr. Diocletian Blobb.
(a) Roman.
(b) American.
(c) English.
(d) Italian.

2. When Oedipa visits Genghis Cohen for the first time, what does he give her to drink?
(a) Dandelion vodka.
(b) German wine.
(c) German vodka.
(d) Dandelion wine.

3. According to Stanley Koteks, who are the only ones who can work the Nefastis Machine?
(a) Demons.
(b) Scientists.
(c) Demonstrators.
(d) Sensitives.

4. Genghis Cohen told Oedipa, during their discussion about the meanings behind the stamps, that he had never heard of an _______ year tradition of postal fraud.
(a) 900.
(b) 600.
(c) 100.
(d) 800.

5. How many errors did Genghis Cohen find in the stamp collection Oedipa showed him?
(a) Five.
(b) Nine.
(c) Eight.
(d) Six.

Short Answer Questions

1. As Mucho and Oedipa eat at a pizzeria, what does Mucho notice about one violin heard on the Muzak playing in the restaurant?

2. After arriving at Dr. Hilarius's clinic, Oedipa is told what by the doctor's assistant?

3. What is the purpose of the group as explained by the tourist wearing the lapel pin?

4. Which of the following is NOT a place that Oedipa encountered the WASTE symbol?

5. Oedipa goes to Zapf's Used Books to buy a copy of what book?

Short Essay Questions

1. As Oedipa sits in rush hour traffic on the Bay Bridge, what does she determine she knows about Tristero?

2. The men Oedipa meets on her journey end up abandoning her. What were some of their fates and what did they represent?

3. What is the story behind the founding of Inamorati Anonymous?

4. Oedipa discovers that the line from Driblette's version in Plays of Ford, Webster, Tourneur and Wharfinger about Trystero was replaced by another referring to what?

5. What does the historical marker that Oedipa remembers seeing at Fangoso Lagoons commemorate?

6. When Oedipa and Metzger go back to The Scope in Chapter 4, Mike Fallopian explains that there exists what kind of underground group?

7. What is Pynchon ridiculing through all of Oedipa's in-depth research into the Trystero?

8. According to Jesus Arrabal, what is the miracle of Inverarity?

9. In addition to visiting John Nefastis, why does Oedipa need to go to Berkeley?

10. Give examples of individuals with the post horn symbol who are somehow alienated from society.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,000 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample