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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 is "Sharing a Bag" dated?

2. What kind of plant does the author describe growing in the cracks of the sidewalk in "The Irrepressible: The Gratitudes"?

3. At what kind of restaurant does the author describe going to a buffet in "Annoyed No More"?

4. With what disease had Walt been diagnosed seven years prior, according to the author in "Remission Still"?

5. What movie about the Supreme Court case that banned the ban on interracial marriage does the author describe in "Weirdly Untitled"?

Short Essay Questions

1. What literary references and allusions are made in "Writing by Hand"? What is their significance?

2. What song is discussed in "Donny Hathaway on Pandora"? What is the subject of the song?

3. What atmosphere is evoked through the setting of "Coffee without the Saucer"?

4. What does the author observe about the etymology of the word "essay" in "Blowing It Off"?

5. How does the author describe his audience in "Weirdly Untitled"?

6. How is Don Belton described in "Flower in the Curb"?

7. Who was Vertus Hardiman and why is he discussed in "Hole in the Head"?

8. What song is the center of the author's discussion in "To Spread the Sweetness of Love"? Why?

9. Who is the main subject in the essay "Baby, Baby, Baby"?

10. Who is the main subject in the essay "That's Some Bambi Shit..."?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the themes of sorrow and death in The Book of Delights. How does the author incorporate these themes into a book about joy? What symbols relate to these themes? What individuals are thematically connected to these concepts?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's exploration of daily delights. How do the author's experiences of recording his observations of delight change his perceptions of joy? How does he feel about the action of sharing delights? How and why do delights appear to expand as he follows the process?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's allusions and references to popular culture in The Book of Delights. What musicians, songs, and films are referenced by the author? How do these works relate to his themes in this collection? How do they connect to the author's delight?

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This section contains 737 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample