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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 Dinah go the day after her fight with Hart?

2. Who is Hart Kennedy's former wife?

3. What happens when Paul tries to make love to the woman in #136?

4. Paul says that _______________ is about feeling so deeply that you go beyond it, to the end of feeling, and to a loss of interest in everything.

5. Stofsky says that Paul is ____________________.

Short Essay Questions

1. How do Paul and Pasternak feel about the tension between them regarding Pasternak's affair with Kathryn?

2. What is the metaphor of both Hart and Pasternak wanting a road trip at this point in time?

3. Why are the other characters so fascinated by the arrival of Hart Kennedy?

4. What does Agatson's verbal attack on Verger mean and why does May even defend Agatson?

5. Why is Agatson's party the worst one in the entire novel?

6. What is it about Hart that makes him become the group's leader?

7. Why doesn't Paul mail the letters he writes to Liza?

8. What do Paul and Kathryn realize at the end of the story?

9. Why does Paul feel the need to call Estelle?

10. How does the author use foreshadowing in Agatson's invitation to his "last birthday" party?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Stofsky spends some alone time throughout the novel to contemplate his life. What does he think about? What conclusions does he arrive at? Explain why he is in a contemplative mood at this point in time.

Essay Topic 2

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the story. Which of the characters are lonely? Are they all lonely in some way? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

Essay Topic 3

Create a brief character study of Gene Pasternak. What does he look like? What are his positive personality traits? What are some of his negative characteristics? What are his hopes and fears? What motivates him during his lifetime?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 965 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample