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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. In Death of the Right Fielder, how was the right fielder received by his teammates?

2. What color is the skyscraper in The Falling Girl?

3. What does the gypsy in On Hope train monkeys to do?

4. Where is the university student in La Volpaia departing by train?

5. Where does Blackberries take place?

Short Essay Questions

1. What unifies the stories At the River, The Blue Jar, Gregory and Iguana Hunting?

2. Describe the themes and political motif in One of These Days. What other story in the collection shares similar themes?

3. What is the objective of the protagonist in The Laugher? When is he the happiest?

4. What stories in the beginning of the collection focus on the theme of aging? How do these stories relate to one another?

5. What is the central theme in At the River? How is this manifested in the central characters?

6. Who are the characters in At the River? What are they catching for food in the story?

7. How does the dentist get revenge in One of These Days? For what does he enact vengeance?

8. What is the taboo subject central in the story The Boy? How does the narrative play out?

9. How is the narrative structured in the story Happy Endings? What are the first scenarios like?

10. Who is the central character in On Hope? What does his monkey bring to him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the work and careers of Dino Buzzati and Stuart Dybek. How is each author's style reflected in the characters, settings, subjects and themes in The Falling Girl and Death of the Right Fielder?

Essay Topic 2

Compare the settings and characters of The Grass-Eaters and Preparations. Where and when in Calcutta does The Grass-Eaters take place? How does the author effectively present the squalor of India?

Essay Topic 3

Describe the plot, characters and narrative style of One of These Days. How does this story differ from Marquez's more well-known works? What political themes are evident in the narrative?

(see the answer keys)

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