View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. The sun hitting the escalator reminds Howie of what in his apartment?

2. What skill is Howie particularly proud of?

3. At age twenty-five, what percentage of Howie's thoughts are adult?

4. What does Howie do along with washing his face in the bathroom?

5. What record does Howie describe listening to and cleaning with his family?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Howie's reflections on the overall safety of escalators?

2. What is one of Howie's favorite games to play on the escalator?

3. How can Howie reach a majority of adult thoughts?

4. What causes Howie to consider the intentions of the inventors of the escalator?

5. Why does Howie consider CVS to be the diary of stores?

6. What are some of the odd personal habits of various philosophers that Howie describes?

7. What does Abe jokingly claim to Howie while they talk in the men's room?

8. What does Howie notice as he rushes out the revolving door and onto the plaza for his lunch break?

9. Howie does Howie think his corporation flaunts their status?

10. What is Howie's dilemma in the men's bathroom?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What profound insight does Howie achieve through his stream of consciousness while riding the subway? Could he have had this same insight without the constant stream of trivial thoughts? Is his realization truly profound, transcending the triviality of his mundane thoughts?

Essay Topic 2

Has Baker achieved a literary work of profound complexity or is "The Mezzanine" a trivial novel, completely lacking in plot? Explain your view based on evidence in the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss the metaphorical significance of the escalator and how it is used as a vehicle of thought throughout the novel.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 771 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample