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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. What is Boomer's final gift to Ellen Cherry?

2. What makes the I & I the most popular restaurant in the city?

3. Why does Buddy say he's glad Boomer is in Jerusalem?

4. To what does Abu attribute the frequent accomplishments of the Jews?

5. Which painting does Ellen Cherry sell for $7000?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Uncle Buddy's reasoning for attempting to blow up the Dome of the Rock?

2. When Ultima and Ellen Cherry talk about art, Ultima says that some artists admit defeat and stop trying to be original. Ellen Cherry disagrees with this and says artists always strive for originality. Why do you think this conversation inspires her to begin painting again?

3. Without art and without Boomer, Ellen Cherry is beginning to feel that life is meaningless. What do you think Robbins is saying about the relationship between the meaning we give our lives and our endeavors and/or relationships?

4. Painted Stick strikes a human in order to save Spoon from being picked up. Explain why he feels so bad about this.

5. What is the effect of the high definition TV that Spike gave to the I & I?

6. Describe the group of objects in Ellen Cherry's underwear drawer.

7. Is there symbolic significance in the event when Ellen Cherry, having determined to paint again, goes looking for Turn Around Norman and finds Buddy instead?

8. Ellen Cherry is clearly upset by the disappearance of Spoon. Explain how you think she feels.

9. Describe the statue Boomer is making in Jerusalem and comment on its significance.

10. Patsy tells Ellen Cherry that it seems like Boomer loves her but doesn't like her, while he likes but doesn't love Ultima. Does this seem like a true representation of Boomer's feelings, based on what you know about him so far?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

Compare the contrast the two radically different political positions represented by Spike and Abu on the one hand and Buddy on the other. What do they each think about the conflict in the middle east? How do their ideas, both about it's background and the best possible resolution to the conflict, differ? Consider the problem or issue of interpretation in history.

Essay Topic 3

How does the historical perspective provided by the objects, Spike, and Abu influence the way we perceive the events of the story? Is the story be the same without Robbins' historical account and interpretation of the conflict in Jerusalem? In what ways is it different? Cite at least three specific examples where the historical background has a significant impact on the reader's understanding of the narrative.

(see the answer keys)

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