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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 finally arrives home with his wife and father-in-law, what sad news does he learn?

2. After seeing Mr. Purty and his truck, Hank returns to campus. He runs into Meg Quigley. What does she tell him?

3. When did Hank's father discover he couldn't lecture anymore?

4. What does Hank hear someone say at the meeting he is suspended above?

5. Where is the dead bird found on campus?

Short Essay Questions

1. In Chapter 31, what does Tony tell Hank about Yolanda Ackles?

2. What are Hank's Prologues to Book One and Two about, and where are they published? What is his mother's reaction to his writing?

3. What is the status of Hank and Lily's daughters? What are they doing?

4. On Monday morning, Hank gets a call from Lou Steinmetz. What is Lou's job and what does he ask Hank about? Who calls Hank right after Lou? What does he tell Hank?

5. The morning after Hank and Tony end up in the same place, what does Hank find when he heads home? What does he do instead? What does he find out?

6. When Hank gets to his office the morning the goose is found hanging in the tree,, what emotional state is his secretary in? Why is this?

7. What does Hank notice as he leaves his mother in front of the Victorian house?

8. After Hank's calls from Lou and Teddy, Hank heads to campus but stops at the diner first. Who does he meet there and what does this individual tell Hank?

9. Hank goes back to his office after seeing his mother on the street. What happens to him there and what does he immediately do?

10. What deal did Hank's father accept after the "dog incident" that Hank related in his first article? According to his son, what made this a very attractive offer for William Henry Devereaux, Sr.?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tone refers to the attitude of the narrator of a work. As the narrator of "Straight Man", what is the author's tone at different stages of the book? Explain the tone, with examples:

1) In the Prologue of Book One.

2) When he grabs Finny the Goose by the neck and holds him up for the television camera.

3) When he catches his son-in-law with Meg Quigley.

4) In the Epilogue.

Essay Topic 2

Choose two characters in the book that play an important role in Hank's life and discuss their characteristics and the importance of their relationship with Hank. Cite three specific examples for each character from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

The setting refers to the time and the place where a story takes place. Compare and contrast the settings of "Straight Man" regarding time. How does it compare to the childhood he describes in the Epilogue to Book One? Cite at least three examples from the book where Russo discusses how the setting, in reference to time, has changed.

(see the answer keys)

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