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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. Why was Hal admitted to the emergency room after his interview?

2. What does Ken watch as he waits for the woman to arrive with his delivery?

3. What drug is Madam Psychosis similar to?

4. What did Wardine's mother beat her with?

5. In Chapter 5, where is the medical attache from?

Short Essay Questions

1. Do the students at Enfield face any consequences for their drug use?

2. What role does Lyle play?

3. What advice do the older tennis students have for the younger students and what purpose does it serve?

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

5. Who is Ken Erdedy?

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

7. Who is Orin Incandenza?

8. What kind of relationship do Mario and Hal have?

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

10. What kind of relationship did James seem to have with his father?

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

The character of Lyle is symbolic of one's desire to feed off the exertion of others. What characters fit into this category? Identify at least two characters who might fit into this pattern.

Essay Topic 3

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

(see the answer keys)

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