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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. To what does Patsy Charles attribute Ellen Cherry Charles' move to New York?

2. After Boomer picks Ellen Cherry up in the Turkey, where do they go?

3. Who does Buddy need to get on the phone after he has his vision?

4. What are Boomer and Ellen Cherry celebrating at a Drive-in?

5. What resolve does Ellen Cherry make with regard to her art as a result of Boomer's successful art show?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the the origins of Spike Cohen's foot fetish?

2. 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?

3. What do you think Robbins is saying by personifying objects and having them secretly move?

4. Why does Boomer turn an airstream into a Turkey?

5. One of Abu Hadee's favorite quotes is "A shadow does not belong to the object that casts it." What do you think of the significance of this? How does it relate to the rest of the novel so far?

6. 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.

7. What are some ways you can interpret Boomer's spy coat sculpture in which he declares his love for Ellen Cherry in a 500 different encoded messages?

8. All of the objects are given a gender except Can 'o Beans. Why is this significant?

9. What do we learn about Ellen Cherry in the first few sections of the novel?

10. Describe Abu Hadee's history, as it's recounted in "The Fourth Veil"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The question is raised early on by Ellen Cherry whether a person can really be passionate about two things at once. Can she, for example, be both an artist and a wife? Where do you think Robbins (or Ellen Cherry) ultimately falls on this question? State your position and use at least three supporting examples to argue it.

Essay Topic 2

Several ideas about art and the role of the artist are explored throughout the novel. Choose three characters and compare their ideas of art and the artist. In order to accomplish this, you have to define or characterize each character's theory or art. You may choose any character that you can develop a coherent theory of art for, but some of the more obvious choices are Ellen Cherry, Boomer, Ultima, and Buddy.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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