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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 does the narrator say is the primary function of the middle of a story?

2. How many times a year does Ambrose’s family come to Ocean City?

3. What happens to Ambrose’s voice if he becomes excited when talking?

4. What does Ambrose imagine about his work when he is an adult?

5. What does Ambrose imagine doing if he gets out of the funhouse on his own?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does an elderly man say to Ambrose about how to enter the Funhouse?

2. What does Ambrose do after Magda and Peter leave the Funhouse?

3. How does Ambrose feel about Magda and what is he afraid to do about it?

4. What does the narrator say is the function of the beginning of a story?

5. Where does Ambrose go after dinner? What is he looking for and what does he see?

6. What does Ambrose remember about playing the game 'Niggers and Masters' with Peter and Magda when they were younger?

7. What is done in Ocean City because of U-boats and how is it done?

8. What does Ambrose’s mother give the three teenagers when they reach the boardwalk, and what does she say to them and why?

9. Why does Magda win the traditional game in the car, and what does Ambrose’s mother say about her win?

10. What does the narrator say a Freitag’s Triangle is?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Choose two significant symbols and trace and analyze their appearance in Lost in the Funhouse. Are these universal symbols that would have the same meaning in any culture? What other symbols could portray the same idea? Why do you think Barth chooses the symbols he does? Consider symbols such as the Towers, Fat May, the Funhouse, and the oil in the ocean.

Essay Topic 2

Define plot and include the definitions of the most important elements of a plot. Do all short stories have a plot? Why or why not? Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Lost in the Funhouse, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot? Give a brief synopsis of any important sub-plots.

Essay Topic 3

Characters are an integral and important part of almost all short stories.

Compare/contrast the characters of Ambrose and Peter. How are they similar? How are they different? Is there a flaw in each of their personalities? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Be specific and give examples. How do they seem different? Which do you like more? Why? Which one seems more of a well-rounded character?

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