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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 does Howie refer to his adult thinking life as?

2. What word does Howie feel he says too often?

3. What habit of L's does Howie find revolting?

4. Howie only likes to use straws for _________.

5. What does Howie buy to go with his coffee after his subway revelation?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Howie mean by "vibratiuncles of comparison"?

2. What compelling realization does Howie remember when driving behind a garbage truck when he is thirty?

3. What thoughts about bread does Howie have while riding the subway?

4. How does Howie describe the experience of opening a package of shirts from the dry cleaners?

5. Where is Howie when he believes that his great period of growth as a human has ended?

6. Why does Howie purchase a milk carton at Papa Gino's?

7. What point is Howie trying to make in his footnote about doorknobs?

8. Howie does Howie's shoelace break?

9. What is Howie's focus in Chapter 3?

10. What does Howie consider to be his sixth major advancement in life?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the literary impressionism used in the novel and the overall effect it creates.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the time sequence of the novel and how it adds or detracts from the reader's ability to connect with the narrative.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the paradox of Howie the man-child and the greater truth that existed within that ambiguity.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 701 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample