View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What part of New York does Henry move to?

2. What kind of fight does Henry have with Hilda and Gertrude at the end of this section?

3. What does Billy Boy hire Henry to wash?

4. Where does Henry take a job in this section?

5. Where does the blond woman take Henry to after the bar?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Henry's frame of mind when he arrives in New Orleans?

2. What is Henry's opinion of New York?

3. What bet does Henry make in the opening chapter?

4. How does a relationship develop between Henry and Gertrude?

5. What does Henry do while drunk with his friend, Tim Hunter?

6. What does Henry do in El Paso?

7. How does Billy-Boy help Henry in the third section?

8. How do Henry's friends help him in the third section?

9. Describe Willie Oxnard's house?

10. What is Henry's first job in New York?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Bukowski represent alcoholism in his novel? How does Chinaski's habit affect his daily life? What kind of person would Chinaski have been without the alcoholism?

Essay Topic 2

Identify the main themes of the story. In what way are these themes relevant to the period? How does the author use character and setting to express these themes?

Essay Topic 3

What does Bukowski express about liberty in his novel? In what ways are Bukowski and his career an example of American liberty?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 686 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample