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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. What does Kidd take from the downstairs apartment?

2. What does Kidd think the reason for Bobby's death may have been?

3. Why is Kidd attacked and beat up by "scorpions?"

4. As a child, what does Kidd remember being considered?

5. Why does the woman think that Kidd must be older than 27?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who does Kidd meet in the first chapter of the book?

2. Why does Kidd agree to stay at the Richards' place until Mr. Richards gets home?

3. In Chapter II, what else does Kidd realize about his past?

4. What does Kidd remember and not remember about himself?

5. When Kidd first starts writing his poems, what does he think will happen?

6. When the woman asks Kidd if he wants to change the world, what is Kidd's answer?

7. How do the scorpions tempt Kidd?

8. Why is Kidd angry with the Richards and why does he end his work relationship with them?

9. Does the reader know what is very curious about Bellona?

10. What surprises Kidd about the sample book copy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of survival courses through the entire novel. Characters feel as though they are being forced to stay in Bellona and must push themselves to survive here.

1. Why do the characters feel forced to stay? Is it because of money, family, or welfare?

2. How is this similar to what people who live in assisted living or are on welfare feel? Why are they trapped into their current situations? Is it completely their fault?

Essay Topic 2

Delany's Dhalgren is thought to be one of the best Science Fiction books of the 1970s and 1980s. Consider what thematic elements classify this book as Science Fiction.

1. How does this book differ from others in the Science Fiction genre?

2. What classifies a book as Science Fiction? How does this book seem to fall short of some of these criteria?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss how Delany successfully or unsuccessfully uses the circular structure of the novel to build a climax to his tale?

If you think he is successful, provide some examples of how he is successful.

If you do not think he is successful, describe ways he could have reached a climax using this structure.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 668 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample