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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. When did Orin stop playing tennis?

2. Which of Hal's test scores were extremely low?

3. How long were Joelle and Orin lovers?

4. In Chapter 2, what is Ken waiting for a woman to deliver?

5. What describes Ken's addiction?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Lyle's enjoyment of licking sweat symbolize?

2. Why is Orin being followed?

3. What role does Lyle play?

4. What events led to Orin's football career?

5. Who is Don Gately?

6. What does Mario want to Hal to tell him about sadness?

7. What indicates that the medical attache is obsessed with the tape?

8. How does Wallace create back stories for the characters?

9. What role does Millicent Kent play in Mario's life?

10. Which of the Incandenza brothers is the most stable?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Assess the overall tone of Infinite Jest. Is it positive or negative? Is it melancholy or uplifting? Is it reflective? Use three tones to describe Infinite Jest.

Essay Topic 2

What intentions did James have when he created the Entertainment? Has it served its desired purpose? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

What does the title Infinite Jest suggest about the novel? Why do you think Wallace chose this title?

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