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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 is attacked by a porcupine?
2. Who are Spike Cohen and Roland Abu Hadee?
3. What name does Ellen Cherry Charles' father call her?
4. What surprises Raoul about Ellen Cherry's appearance?
5. What is the subject of the painting is Ellen Cherry working on, while she and Boomer are driving across the country?
Short Essay Questions
1. At the end of this section, Buddy avoids getting a speeding ticket by using his saxophone voice and preaching to the police officer. Is this realistic and why do you think Robbins includes it in the story?
2. Do you see any irony in Salome's determination only to do the Dance of the Seven Veils if she can have John the Baptist's head on a platter? Why or why not?
3. What do you think Robbins is saying by personifying objects and having them secretly move?
4. Explain the symbolism of the I & I.
5. Describe Ellen Cherry's eye game.
6. What does Ellen Cherry mean when she says that "'political art' is a contradiction in terms"?
7. What do we learn about Patsy, Ellen Cherry's mother in the section called "The First Veil"?
8. Why does Boomer turn an airstream into a Turkey?
9. The fifth veil has to do with removing the illusion of the value of money. Is money's value really an illusion? Explain why or why not.
10. The Third Veil turns out to be the veil of political illusion. Robbins says that politics is "the compulsion to preside over property and make other people's decisions for them." He says that liberty can't be a result of political action. In what ways does this seem true and in what ways not true?
Essay Topics
Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:
Essay Topic 1
Compare the two stories of Salome. How does the ancient version of Salome compare to the modern version? The ancient Salome performs the Dance of the Seven Veils in exchange for John the Baptist's head on a plate. The modern Salome dances in response to Ellen Cherry's mural during the Super Bowl.
Essay Topic 2
How does nature figure into this novel? Consider the instances where people or objects come into contact with nature or natural forces. For example, when the objects are making their way to New York, they encounter several natural obstacles along the way. Do these events (or others that involve contact with nature) have a significance beyond their function in the plot? For example, is the natural world a place where things are possible that aren't in the city? Are the events individually symbolic?
Essay Topic 3
Consider Robbins' unique style. How do you describe it? What do you think it allows him to do that a more traditional style prevents? Analyze at least three specific examples to support your thesis.
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This section contains 1,187 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) |
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