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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. Where does Dr. Benway work on his famous project that encourages a police state and arbitrary punishments are given for everyday offenses?

2. The Vigilante is described as though he were located where in Chapter 2?

3. What is the university campus full of?

4. According to William, what is lost during both the using of drugs and the forced rehabilitation of a person?

5. What is the Vigilante’s defense for his actions in Chapter 2?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when William Lee meets Miguel in “Lazarus Go Home”?

2. What is symbolized by Dr. Benway’s operation in “Hospital”?

3. Where is William traveling in the beginning of “The Rube”? How does the Rube die?

4. How is the plot structure of “And Start West” different from the plot structures of the other vignettes in the novel?

5. What is symbolized by in Annexia and Freeland?

6. How is the setting of “Campus of Interzone University” described? What is the Professor lecturing about at the beginning of the chapter?

7. How does William describe the Vigilante in terms of his “humanity”?

8. What is the significance of Vigilante’s character in the novel? How does the Vigilante change?

9. Why is Willy at Hassan’s Hospital in “Hospital”? How is his situation described?

10. What are the two nonhuman creatures described by the author in “The Black Meat”?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

William’s character is based upon the real life and experiences of author William S. Burroughs. How does the book mirror William S. Burroughs' real life experiences, including running from the law, traveling to exotic locations, and becoming involved in underground drug and homosexual cultures?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss and analyze the symbolism and imagery in “The Black Meat.” What does the Black Meat represent? How are the Reptiles and Mugwumps described? What do they symbolize? How do these creatures compare to one another? How do they compare to “people” in the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Describe and discuss Hassan's Hospital in the narrative. What led to William being held at the hospital? What hallucinations does William describe for those undergoing withdrawal? What does Dr. Benway use as tools in his operation? Why?

(see the answer keys)

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