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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 Night Streets of Madness, where do Bukowski and the young poet sit?

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

3. What does Bukowski think the young men in The Big Pot Game do with the language they copy?

4. Who does Bukowski hate in Flower Horse?

5. In Note of a Potential Suicide, what event does Bukowksi remember attending as a boy?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. What does the first woman in A Rain of Women remind Bukowski of?

3. What does Bukowski think of people's taste in music?

4. Why does Bukowski think that current poets and comic strips create their art the way they do?

5. How do the older men contrast with the younger ones in The Big Pot Game?

6. Why does Bukowski not go to the race track as planned in A Rain of Women?

7. What is ironic about Bukowski's observations in A Bad Trip?

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

9. How does Bukowski's obsession with death and sex show up in Notes of a Potential Suicide?

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

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.

Essay Topic 2

One recurring theme in Tales of Ordinary Men is balance between life and literature. Describe Bukowski's ideas on life and literature from at least two stories from the collection. Which is more important to him, and why? Make sure you answer each question with evidence and support from the stories.

Essay Topic 3

Symbolism can be found throughout Tales of Ordinary Madness. Choose two different stories to describe symbols from. What do those symbols you chose represent? How do they contrast in comparison to their surroundings? Make sure you answer each question with evidence and support from the stories.

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