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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 Slim escape to from the State Workforce?
2. What does "No Thumbs" Helen specialize in besides turning tricks?
3. What year is it when Slim is released from Leavenworth?
4. When Sim runs from the FBI, who is the only person who knows where he is going?
5. What kind of car does Slim buy?
Short Essay Questions
1. What consequences to others does Slim fail to consider before or mention after his escape in Chapter 18?
2. What does the sewer in the chapter 15 title refer to?
3. Why does Leroy's arrest drive Chris to work for Blood?
4. How does the relationship between Chris and Slim evolve during the 1940's in Chapter 14?
5. While out on bail in Chapter 16, how does Slim show his true colors as a friend to Sweet Jones and why?
6. What prompts Runt to work harder after her return in Chapter 12?
7. How does the Chapter 22 title "Dawn" reflect the evolution of Slim's life at this stage?
8. How does his mother's death in Chapter 22 affect Slim's life?
9. Why does Blood begin to feel like a real pimp in Chapter 13?
10. How is Slim working and spending his days now that he's off the drugs and living in Seattle in Chapter 21?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Though the epilogue to the story of Iceberg Slim's life is intended to portray Slim's thankfulness for a new lease on life and a feeling of renewal and redemption, an argument could be made that the overall tone of the book is almost nostalgic and its unapologetic approach shows no real remorse or genuine sense of misgiving for a life spent exploiting and abusing others. Describe your sense of the author's real feelings towards his life and choices. Is there a sense that his path was maybe more difficult than necessary but really not that bad since he "lived happily ever after" in the end? Is the book intended to convey a lesson or moral to the reader about ways not to live life or simply to provide catharsis for the author? Remembering that the author is a self-described psychological manipulator and professional salesman, think critically about the tone and content of the story. What appears to be the motivation of the author (beyond his overtly stated reasoning) for writing this book?
Essay Topic 2
Common reviews and/or criticisms of the book "Pimp: The Story of My Life" include:
It is actually categorized as a work of fiction.
It has poor character development, particularly of the female characters.
The slang is outdated and nearly unreadable.
The lurid detail is more self-serving than explicative.
The plot movement is slow.
It is an unapologetic and graphically real look at the lifestyle it attempts to portray.
The writing style is inspired and gripping.
Slim truly tells it like it is.
React to some of these statements and craft your own thoughtful and well-reasoned review of this book (attempt to use your knowledge of literary standards as opposed to visceral reaction).
Essay Topic 3
In spite of the fact that Slim owns a gun, a reasonably normal accessory for a pimp, he never kills anyone (though he does shoot Serena and attempts to shoot Steve) and very few of his associates are murdered or die by violence. Sweet Jones shoots and kills an unnamed man, though he escapes jail. Slim is shot at in the Roost but is not hurt. Henry Upshaw, Glass Top, Pretty Preston and Mama all die of various (though not necessarily unavoidable) natural causes. None of Slim's prostitutes ever is reported to die (even though Slim himself attempts to kill Runt). Slim's world is filled with anger, violence, danger, beatings, drugs, sex, prison stints and yet Slim's story is almost unaffected by traumatic deaths. Does this seem likely? Is this relative "purity" a fictional polish the author has put in the story? What other reasons might there be for this?
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This section contains 1,184 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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