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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 the narrator says that Trinidadians love a "fete," what is he saying they love?

2. What does Nobby's landlady tell him he must feed his dog?

3. What is a char-a-banc?

4. When Bat tells his friends that they are "stupid," and Alfy agrees that this is true "in the past tense," what is Alfy implying (60)?

5. Where does Bat first suggest Syl look for a hotel room?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who are the Legion of Mary sisters, and what do they want from Jean?

2. What does Syl spend most of his free time doing in the summer, and why does it seem to be a wasted effort?

3. What story about finding money did Alfy once tell Gallows?

4. What does Teena expect from Fitz during the excursion, and how does he get out of doing what she asks?

5. How did Harry end up in London, and what point does the narrator say this illustrates?

6. What irony does the narrator point out in the way men treat women?

7. How did Nobby end up with a dog?

8. Describe Bat's reaction to Matilda's suggestion about the excursion.

9. How does Harry react when he learns what Jean does for a living?

10. What tactics does Syl use to try to get Pat to sleep with him that violate modern Western standards of consent?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

We have already discussed how the narrator's attitudes toward gender do and do not overlap with those of the characters. But what about the author's perspective? Write an essay that takes and defends a position on the degree to which Sam Selvon's perspective on gender overlaps with that of the narrator of The Housing Lark. You may choose to use biographical information on Selvon as part of your defense of your position, but the majority of your evidence should be drawn from the text of The Housing Lark itself. Support your ideas with evidence from the text, and cite all sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 2

Write an essay that analyzes Battersby's character. How is his characterization established? Is he a flat or round character? Static or dynamic? Ultimately, what purpose does his character serve in supporting the novel's theme? Support your ideas with evidence from the text, and cite all sources in MLA format.

Essay Topic 3

Write an essay explicating the possible purposes of the parallels between techniques used in The Housing Lark and in calypso music. Show what these parallels are, providing evidence for the similarities you identify. Then, explain how these parallels support meaning--for instance, by creating atmosphere and conveying ideas. Support your ideas with evidence from the text, and cite all sources in MLA format.

(see the answer keys)

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