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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 near the center that is home to a large number of birds?

2. How does Hank respond to Bodie's advice?

3. The night after the news report is aired, Hank meets with Dickie Pope. What is Dickie's position at the college?

4. What does Hank find on a shelf in Pope's office?

5. What does Hank see, that he had bought when he was a boy, in his mother's basement when he is getting her suitcase for her?

Short Essay Questions

1. After meeting with his colleagues and before Hank leaves his office to go home, Hank looks around his office and reminisces about his stint as interim chair. What is his assessment?

2. When he was eight, Hank's father did get a dog for him. What was the dog like, where did Mr. Devereaux get it, and what was Hank's reaction? Why did he react that way?

3. After visiting the duck pond, Hank heads to the cafeteria. Who does he meet there? What is Hank's history with this person? What do they talk about?

4. Hank's news item is aired on television and he becomes something of a local hero to his colleagues. What is the first place Hank goes to that night? What is bothering him?

5. What did Henry, as his parents called him, really want when he was a child? How did he go about convincing them to fulfill his dream?

6. Why is Hank under pressure from his department colleagues at the beginning of the book? What does this result in at a staff meeting?

7. After having lunch at the bowling alley, Hank goes to see his mother, but first visits with Mr. Purty. Who is Mr. Purty and what does he give Hank?

8. When Hank gets home from his visit to Julie, he has a conversation with Billy Quigley. What are Billy's characteristics and what is the conversation about?

9. The morning after his news debut, Hank realizes the film has been shown on Good Morning, America, much to everyone's amusement. Hank heads to see Campbell Wheemer. What is Hank's nickname for Wheemer? Why does he call him that? How is Wheemer a contrast to Hank?

10. What did Hank's mother make Hank promise to do if he got a dog? Why?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How are Hank's father and mother characterized in the Prologue? As the novel progresses, how does their relationship with Hank follow the same patterns as it did when he was a child?

Essay Topic 2

Define what is meant by "style" in writing. Discuss what kind of style is used traditional nonfiction, novels, and creative nonfiction. Which style was used in the writing of "Straight Man"? Support your answer with four examples.

Essay Topic 3

State the theme of "Straight Man". How is the theme of the story reflected in the conflicts and challenges Hank Devereaux experiences during one week at Railton College? Give four examples with an explanation for each one.

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