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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 happens when the men and women's wards mix in Purple as an Iris?

2. In One for Walter Lowenfels, what does the woman believe in?

3. In A Bad Trip, what does Bukowski talk about in conjunction with acid?

4. Who does the woman sleep with first in I Shot a Man in Reno?

5. How much money does Bukowski win in Flower Horse?

Short Essay Questions

1. What do Bukowski's visitors take away from him in A Popular Man?

2. What is different about Beer and Poets and Talk than the other short stories in Tales of Ordinary Madness?

3. What does Carol do for Gordon to help him in Animal Crackers in My Soup?

4. What does a pest do, according to Bukowski in Notes on the Pest?

5. What happens at the end of the Flower Horse?

6. Who is causing all the noise with the car horn in Night Streets of Madness, and why?

7. What else does Bukowski realize about himself when he sees Luke in I Shot a Man in Reno?

8. How does Bukowski feel next to Jim in I Shot a Man in Reno?

9. Describe the woman in One for Walter Lowenfels.

10. What does Bukowski think of current poets and comic strips in Eyes Like the Sky?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many different ideas and themes are connected in Tales of Ordinary Madness, but "Notes of a Potential Suicide" reveals connections that are more obvious. What connections are revealed in the story? How is the symphony connected to the Air Show event? What makes them memorable or important for Bukowski? Make sure you answer each question with evidence and support from the story.

Essay Topic 2

In Tales or Ordinary Madness, "A .45 to Pay the Rent" and "Doing Time with Public Enemy No. 1" are two different stories about men in some kind of prison. How is Bukowski different from Duke, personality-wise? How do they deal with their different trials in life, and who do you think handles their "imprisonment" better? Make sure you answer each question with evidence and support from the stories.

Essay Topic 3

Insanity is a theme that runs throughout many stories in Tales of Ordinary Madness, but it is especially prominent in "Night Streets of Madness." How is insanity displayed in this story? Give at least two examples. What does Bukowski think of these insane actions? Which act of insanity is the worst in Bukwoski's opinion? Make sure you answer each question with evidence and support from the story.

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