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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. How does the narrator know Vic?

2. What does Missy order at the cafe?

3. What does Eddie do?

4. What disguise does Harlequin take in order to speak to Missy?

5. What does the professor dream about that night?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the character of Harlequin.

2. Based on the ideas explored in 'Fifteen Painted Cards from a Vampire Tarot' why do you think vampire stories are so popular?

3. What might the plasticine gargoyle symbolize?

4. Describe the narrator's attempts to find Scarlet in 'Pages from a Journal...'

5. In 'My Life' is the poet telling the truth about anything he says?

6. Is the professor the same person as Susan from the Narnia books?

7. Why does the father in 'Locks' feel that we owe it to ourselves to tell each other stories?

8. Why does Becky break up with the narrator?

9. Do you think Miss Corvier is supernatural or a normal but disturbed human?

10. In 'The Day the Saucer's Came' why does the person in the poem not notice such incredible events?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The author often uses storytelling with first person narrators to tell his stories and poems. In which stories and poems does he do this, and why? What effect does this create? How does it complement the story that is being told?

Essay Topic 2

What is the 'Problem of Susan'? How does the author attempt to address it? Do you think he has succeeded? What do you think the author's opinion of the Problem of Susan is? What is your opinion and why?

Essay Topic 3

How many of the stories and poems in this collection are horror stories? Why do you consider them to be horror stories? How has the author used language, structure, pace, and symbolism to create a scary or creepy atmosphere? Are these conventional horror stories or something a bit different?

(see the answer keys)

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