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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. In "Pearls," what does Sedaris tell the woman in Sussex about Hugh?

2. In "Pussytoes," which sibling ends up making the bulk of the arrangements after Lou's death?

3. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," how does one of Sedaris's fans tell him her pet hamster died?

4. In "A Better Place," what objection does Sedaris make to people saying that his father did his best?

5. In "Lucky-Go-Happy," what does Sedaris notice everywhere once he starts touring again?

Short Essay Questions

1. In "Pearls," how does the purchase of the second apartment illustrate one of Sedaris's main ideas about successful relationships?

2. In "Smile, Beautiful," what two reasons does Sedaris mention for his surprise when the man on the street tells the woman to smile?

3. In "Lady Marmalade," what anecdote does Sedaris share about his father's photography and his sister Lisa?

4. In "Pearls," what does Sedaris theorize are the two main causes of relationship failures?

5. What literal and figurative meanings does Sedaris convey with the title "Pearls"?

6. In "Pussytoes," what is Sedaris's reaction to his father's "Little Black Book"?

7. In "The Vacuum," what kind of language does Sedaris complain about people using to describe the pandemic, and what are some examples of this language?

8. In "A Better Place," what is Sedaris's response to the idea that his father "did his best" (193)?

9. In "Lady Marmalade," what conclusion does Sedaris draw about Lou's motivations for his behavior toward his children's bodies?

10. In "Fresh-Caught Haddock," what examples of his own unconscious racism does Sedaris give?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In "A Speech to the Graduates," Sedaris explicitly offers advice to younger people. But this is not the only place in Happy-Go-Lucky where he offers advice in one form or another. Choose one of the pieces of advice from "A Speech to the Graduates" and show how this advice is echoed in other essays in the collection. You might show how Sedaris enacts this advice in his own life, how he offers this advice to readers through editorializing, and/or how he explicitly offers this advice to other people he interacts with. As you choose which piece of advice to trace through the collection, be mindful not to interpret the advice too narrowly. For instance, in "A Speech to the Graduates," Sedaris offers advice about scented candles--but of course, what he is saying at a deeper level is to consider yourself worthy of an investment in quality items and experiences.

Essay Topic 2

What is the meaning behind the anthology's title? Consider the content of the essay of the same name and how it relates to other essays in the collection. Consider how the title sums up a larger idea in this collection--earnestly or ironically. Also think about the reversed title in the essay's final collection. What is the point of reversing this title, and how does this choice add to your understanding of Sedaris's choice of Happy-Go-Lucky for the entire collection? Write an essay that makes and defends a claim about Sedaris's choice of title for this anthology of essays. Support your assertions with evidence drawn from throughout the collection.

Essay Topic 3

In "The Vacuum," Sedaris is defensive about being called "tone deaf and elitist" during the Covid-19 pandemic (149). Consider Happy-Go-Lucky as a whole. What elements of Sedaris's writing seem to support this charge? What elements argue against it? Does Sedaris seem aware of and compassionate towards the concerns of ordinary people, or does he seem somewhat self-involved and callous? Write an essay in which you take and defend a position about whether Sedaris is or is not indifferent to the suffering of others. Support your assertions with evidence drawn from throughout the anthology.

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