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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. Who has the strange sensation of deja vu when he is hiking further up in elevation?

2. What does Ray consider to be a waste and a destroyer of creative thinking and individuality?

3. What is the profession of Henry Morley?

4. Ray thinks Buddhism and Christianity truly are aspects of _________ reality.

5. Who is uncomfortable in the more expensive restaurant where the men have dinner?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Ray decide to do once the rest of the family is in bed asleep?

2. When the waitress asks the men where they will be hiking, what do the men reply?

3. Where is Japhy and Ray's campsite for the night?

4. Describe Princess as she is seen by Ray Smith when he arrives at Ray and Alvah's house.

5. What kinds of stores do Japhy and Ray go to in order to find the best hiking equipment?

6. Describe the house where Ray Smith is staying.

7. Describe the character of Japhy Ryder.

8. What are some of the ways Japhy shows he is generous?

9. How well prepared does Ray feel at the end of his shopping excursion with Japhy?

10. Describe the character of Ray Smith as he arrives in Los Angeles.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The theme of simplicity is another obvious idea that is tested and acknowledged as the story continues.

Part 1: What are Ray's ideas about simplicity? What are Japhy's ideas about simplicity?

Part 2: What are some examples of Ray and Japhy's adherence to simplicity?

Part 3: Why is living simply preferable to living any other way, according to these characters?

Essay Topic 2

One might say the sexualized descriptions of the women in this story are an indication of Kerouac's own feelings about women and his own perceptions of women.

Part 1: Describe the female characters who are introduced in this novel.

Part 2: What are the motivations of these women, as one can tell from reading about their actions? What does this say about the author's feelings about women?

Part 3: Which female character is the most important to the story? Why?

Essay Topic 3

While the characters profess to have a strong believe in Buddhism and its tenets, there is still the underlying theme of superiority.

Part 1: In what ways do Ray and Japhy feel they are superior to others?

Part 2: Why doesn't this idea of being better than other become problematic to these two men? Or does it?

Part 3: Does it seem like these men are true followers of Buddhism when they talk about how other people are not living the 'right' way? Can one be Buddha-like when they are critical of others?

(see the answer keys)

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