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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. What is the name of the woman doing a profile on Orin for a magazine?

2. How long were Joelle and Orin lovers?

3. Who does Jim's mother love?

4. How many applications did Hal submit to the tennis academy?

5. Who is actually the professional conversationalist?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Don Gately?

2. Why is Orin being followed?

3. What role does Lyle play?

4. What kind of relationship did James seem to have with his sons?

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

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

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

8. Who is Orin Incandenza?

9. Why does Joelle try to overdose at Molly's party?

10. In Chapters 21 - 25, what kind of relationship do Orin and Hal have?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Wallace create a dramatic opening sequence in the beginning of Infinite Jest? What is the purpose of opening so dramatically?

Essay Topic 2

How is Joelle introduced to the reader? Why is the setting in which she is introduced significant? What conclusions can the reader draw immediately after Wallace introduces Joelle?

Essay Topic 3

Why does Hal have a breakdown at the end of the novel? What brought the breakdown on? How does the breakdown lead to the scene that is actually first in the novel?

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