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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 Henry buy with his winnings?

2. Who does Henry describe as intense and intelligent looking?

3. What does Henry notice about Jan's hair in the morning?

4. When does Laura like to have sex?

5. What sport was Manny a star in his youth?

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Henry and Jan start living their lives after Henry is sacked?

2. How does Henry break Pop's world record in the tenth section?

3. How does Jan react to Henry's reappearance in section nine?

4. How does Henry get fired from his job as a janitor?

5. What does Henry find attractive about Jan?

6. What is Henry's attitude at his job at the Times newspaper?

7. Why does Mr. Hansen fire Henry?

8. What is Henry's excuse for walking funny?

9. How do Henry's glowing pants change his mindset and eventually his life situation?

10. Describe Henry's job at the bicycle shop.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose two of the following people and outline their influence on Chinaski's life:

1. His father.

2. Jan.

3. Gertrude.

4. Tim Hunter.

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 are the main turning points of the book? How does Bukowski develop his story to get to each turning point? What happens to the story after a major turning point?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 681 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample