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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. Where does Henry sleep for three or four days?

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

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

4. Who drops in to see Henry with a bottle of wine?

5. What does Henry smoke with Carson Gentry?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Henry meet Gertrude?

2. How does Martha upset Henry in the second section?

3. How does Willie die in the fifth section?

4. Summarize the fourth section.

5. What does Henry think of New York when he first arrives?

6. Describe Henry Chinaski's character.

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

8. Why does Henry decide it is time to go back to Los Angeles?

9. How is Henry trying to develop his writing career in the fourth section?

10. What is Willie's relationship with the three girls?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Bukoski represent sex? How did people in the 70s perceive Bukowski's representations of sex? How do people today perceive Bukowski's representations of sex?

Essay Topic 2

Pick two characters from the book and discuss his or her goals and motives. Do they achieve their motives? Do they share similar goals and motives with other characters? Do their goals clash with other characters? How do the characters' goals and motives affect their interaction with each other?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 715 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample