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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. Which of the following is not something the narrator claims gives him inspiration in his writing life?

2. What language does Zuta study in school?

3. At what hour of the day does Mrs. Youngblood always come to check on Zuta's homework?

4. Which of the following adjectives is not one Joey uses to describe Mr. and Mrs. Youngblood's bedroom?

5. Which of the following groups of men almost passes as "good enough" for Kneadus' desire to meet a farmhand?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Auntie feel about the budding friendship between Valek and Kneadus?

2. What motivation does the narrator say he has for wanting to be a storyteller?

3. How does Zuta respond when she realizes Joey is spying on her?

4. What happens when the Marquis de Filiberthe joins the brawl at the tennis match?

5. What does the narrator of the novel think about symmetry?

6. What does the narrator of the novel believe is the worst form of torture in the world?

7. How does Kneadus react when he sees the farmhand he has been searching for working at Auntie's house?

8. How does the narrator explain his beliefs that all art is an imitation?

9. What interesting items does Joey find in Zuta's bedroom when he snoops through her belongings?

10. How does Aunt Hurlecka come to Joey's rescue while he is on the outskirts of town?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

At various places in the novel, the prose is broken up with chunks of poetry or quotes from other published authors. First, choose at least two of these quotes from the novel and explain their significance within the story. Then, explain what is accomplished in the novel overall by including these secondary texts. Do you think the goal is accomplished?

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, Joey has various crushes on female characters he comes across. First, describe the first romantic crush Joey has on a female character in the novel. How does he respond to these romantic feelings? Then, compare Joey's first crush to a crush he has later on in the novel. What has changed in the way Joey responds to these romantic feelings? How do these scenes show growth in Joey's character? 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.

Essay Topic 3

The narrator of this novel often interjects his opinions of what is going on and speaks directly to the reading audience. What is accomplished by employing this type of intrusive narrator? What is lost? As a reader, describe your reaction to reading a narrator like this. What did his opinions add to the novel? What did they distract from? 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.

(see the answer keys)

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