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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 did Joelle attempt to get James to stop doing?

2. Who does Mario look to for guidance and reassurance?

3. Why did Orin decide to play football?

4. What is the name of the radio show that Mario and Hal listen to at a local club?

5. Where did Orin go to college?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens in Chapter 3, when Hal is 10-years-old?

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

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

4. How does the Ennet House parallel Enfield?

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

6. What role does drug use play at Enfield?

7. Describe Hal Incandenza.

8. Who is Ken Erdedy?

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

10. What kind of relationship did Joelle and Orin have?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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

Essay Topic 2

Does each part of Infinite Jest serve a specific purpose? Are there any elements to the story that are pointless? If so, why are these elements still included?

Essay Topic 3

Why did James commit suicide? What did his lack of connection with his family have to do with his depression and suicide?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 861 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample