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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. Who throws the key chain into the lake?

2. Where are Mrs. Snell's matches from?

3. How do you describe Lee, from the story, Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes?

4. What does Arthur think Joanie enjoys most about a new house?

5. What does the narrator's mother-in-law want him to send her?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Arthur call Lee back and pretend Joanie is finally home?

2. How does Boo Boo handle Lionel's habit of running away?

3. Why does Sister Irma withdraw from classes at the art school?

4. Describe the narrator in For Esme -- with Love and Squalor.

5. Why is Sandra so worried about Lionel when he runs away in Down at the Dinghy?

6. Why does Arthur call Lee in the first place of Pretty Mouth and Green my Eyes?

7. Why does Esme's long and complicated letter soothe the narrator more than one from his family?

8. Why does Bobby move the family to Paris in 1929?

9. How does the story, Down at the Dinghy, end?

10. Why is the narrator so taken by Esme?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compare and contrast your favorite story from Nine Stories to your least favorite story. Explain what you like and dislike from each story. Use specific examples from the book.

Essay Topic 2

How is dark comedy used in this collection? What does it add to the collection? How does it affect the reader? Why is dark humor used to discuss topics that are normally taboo? Why is dark humor needed to talk about topics that are normally taboo?

Essay Topic 3

What do we learn about World War II throughout Nine Stories? Why is it such a prevalent theme throughout this collection of short stories?

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