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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 tree blossoms does the author describe as smelling like lemons in "The Purple Cornets of Spring"?

2. About whom was the podcast the author describes listening to in "Still Processing"?

3. What magazine does the author describe recently looking through in "Toto"?

4. Where is the Rothko Chapel located, as described in "Rothko Blackboard"?

5. The author describes receiving a letter from a high school student where in "Found Things (2)"?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the author describe his grandfather in "The Wave of Unfamiliars"?

2. How does the author describe his mother's demeanor in "Judith Irene Gay, Aged Seventy-six Today!"?

3. What movie is described in "Scat"? Why does the author discuss this movie?

4. What event is central in "An Abundance of Public Toilets"? Why does the author find delight in this occasion?

5. What is bindweed? How is it described in "Bindweed... Delight?"

6. What irony can be seen in the essay "Church Poets"?

7. What is the setting of "Pawpaw Grove"? How is it described?

8. Who is the central subject in the essay "The Volunteer"? How is this individual described?

9. Why is setting important in the essay "Botan Rice Candy"? What settings are described in this essay?

10. What does the crow symbolize in "The Crow's Ablutions"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the structure of The Book of Delights. How many essays comprise the collection? How do the essays flow into one another? Is there a relationship between each essay? Why do you think the author has structured the collection in this way?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the author's language style in The Book of Delights. How does the language flow? Does the author employ assonance, alliteration, or onomatopoeia? Is there a rhythm to the prose?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the author's perceptions of himself in the essays in The Book of Delights. How does the author present himself? What are the attributes he is fond of? What are some of his negative traits?

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