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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 Madame Brown try to explain to Kidd?

2. What does Mrs. Richards refuse to face about Bellona?

3. How does the cut happen?

4. Into what apartment will the Richards be moving?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Who fills Kidd in on the riots that have occurred in Bellona?

4. What is odd about the people who stay in Bellona after the event?

5. In this section, Kidd starts to lose time again, how does this affect him?

6. Why does Kidd feel used and angry at his new work situation?

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

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

9. How do the scorpions tempt Kidd?

10. By whom is Kidd beaten up and why does this happen?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Although Kidd is the main character, it seems as though he never advances as a character. The reader goes on a journey with him, but is never really sure whether or not Kidd grows.

1. Why is self awareness and character expansion an important part of a novel?

2. Do you think that Delany purposefully halted the growth of Kidd?

3. How does stopping Kidd's character development match up with the novel?

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

Compare Kidd to Denny. How are these two characters alike and different?

Why would Lanya possibly choose Denny over Kidd?

Does it have something to do with Kidd only seeing Lanya as an object or piece of property?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 740 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample