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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How does Mel's behavior influence the other characters?

2. Other than Mel, which term best describes the characters in the story?

3. Who can be said to be Mel's foil in this story?

4. Which of the following describes Laura's attitude toward Mel as the evening progresses?

5. What effect may the alcohol have had on everyone besides Mel?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Distinguish between tone and mood as used in literature, and then compare and contrast the tone and mood of Carver's story.

Essay Topic 2

Syntax is the way an author puts words, sentences, and sections together to form ideas and meanings. It can be overt or subtle, isolated to a portion of the work or universal throughout. Describe the syntax Carver uses in this story. How do specific characteristics about the syntax contribute to the reader's experience of the work?

Essay Topic 3

Connotation and denotation help a reader understand the meaning of a particular word or concept. Define both connotation and denotation. Identify a word used by Carver in this story and define its denotation and possible connotations. In this specific story, how does the connotation of terms contribute to the reader's understanding of the work?

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