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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 Joey dream about at the opening of the novel?

2. How does Joey feel about having to stay with the Youngbloods while he is in school?

3. Where does Filibur know he must slap Momsen to save his wife's life?

4. How does the narrator claim novels are properly read?

5. Which of the schoolgirl's body parts are most intriguing to Joey when he first meets her?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Joey react when Zuta calls him a clown?

2. How does the principal of Joey's school feel about Pimko's psychological style?

3. What division takes place on the schoolyard after Pimko's notes have been read?

4. Who are the Youngbloods?

5. How does Zuta react when Joey enters her room unannounced?

6. What happens in the battle of face-pulling between Syphus and Kneadus?

7. What type of literary critic does the narrator despise?

8. How does the dual between Filidor and Momsen end?

9. Why doesn't Kopydra want to engage in the dual between the lads and the guys?

10. How do the students in Joey's classroom treat their teachers?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

One of the most important scenes in the novel is the emotional battle between Kneadus and Syphus. First, describe what the two boys were battling for. Who was involved in this battle? Who was left out of the fight? Then, describe the actual events of the battle. What emotions were thrown onto the table? Which boy was victorious? Finally, describe the after-effects of the battle on each of the boys in the days following the battle.

Essay Topic 2

Another important battle scene in the novel is the battle between Doctor Filidor and Doctor Momsen. First, describe these two doctors and explain their opposing views of science. How would each of these men describe or define a noodle? Then, describe the final battle scene between Momsen and Filidor? Who was victorious? How does the battle between Filidor and Momsen directly reflect the earlier battle between Kneadus and Syphus?

Essay Topic 3

In Pimko's school, the best attribute a student can have is immaturity. First, describe why immaturity is such an alluring character trait for the students in Pimko's school. Then, describe how the teachers manipulate the immature students' brains. What commentary is Gombrowicz making about academia in general through the use of his overbearing, opinionated teachers? Choose at least two examples of scenes from the text that you believe best exemplify and strengthen your argument and describe those scenes in this essay.

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