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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. When Hank is in his mother's basement, what kind of physical reaction does he have?

2. What state is Railton College in?

3. Who is the goose named after?

4. Why does this new center on campus bother Hank?

5. What did the outcome of getting a dog make Hank realize about his father?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. After visiting with Mr. Purty and then his mother, Hank plays racquetball with another professor, Tony Coniglia. What happens after their game?

3. 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?

4. 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?

5. Where is the second place Hank goes to the night of his television report? What happens there? What does Hank end up doing?

6. 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?

7. Who is driving Hank home and what do they pass on their way? Where does Hank live?

8. What events transpired after the dog arrived at the Devereaux home?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In reference to the organization (plot) of "Straight Man":

(1) Why are the events of the novel arranged as they are?

(2) What moves the narrative along? Is it external action or internal conflicts? Or is it a combination of both? Support your answer with examples.

Essay Topic 2

Dialogue often serves to reveal characters and their traits, as well as events. It is often used as an alternative to exposition. How is dialogue used as a literary technique to move a narrative along, and specifically how is it utilized in Straight Man? Cite, in detail, one example of how dialogue is used effectively in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

How does the narrative of the Prologue in Book One explain Hank's relationship with his parents? Cite three examples from the Prologue that tells the reader something about the dynamics of the Devereaux family.

(see the answer keys)

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