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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 is the name of the hospital in "The Copulating Mermaid of Venice, California?"

2. In what activity is Marie engaged when Charlie grows aroused by her?

3. What is Bukowski's alias in "A Lovely Love Affair?"

4. What does the prostitute offer to perform for the unnamed narrator in "Trouble with a Battery," which he declines?

5. How many languages does Andre speak?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Herb and Talbot's relationship.

2. Describe some of the preparations taken before the conspiracy to replace the President's brain and larynx with Hitler's own body parts.

3. What is significant about the prostitute's brother in "Trouble with a Battery?"

4. What is significant about Andrew's conversation with his girlfriend?

5. What are Henry Mason's opinions about artists?

6. Why does Bukowski decide to find a better girlfriend than Madge at the end of the story?

7. What happens off of the coast of Spain in "Politics is like Trying to Screw a Cat in the Ass?"

8. Who are some of the famous writers discussed in "The Day We Talk About James Thurber" and why?

9. What are some of the factors Tony and Bill discuss before seeing their stolen corpse for the first time?

10. What is significant about the U.S.S. Pueblo?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Compose an essay about Bukowski's style of writing focusing on either his dialogue, his characterizations, or his ability to evoke a certain mood in a story. Be sure to develop a strong thesis statement around which the essay will be built. Discuss the technical aspects of his style and how it informs the rest of the story, as well as his ability to write himself into his own work. Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss Bukowski's relationship with employment in the following format:

Part 1) His job at the post office.

Part 2) His short-term employment with the meat-packing plant and the newspaper.

Part 3) Employment versus gambling.

Part 4) His work in "The White Beard."

Part 5) Employment versus his writing career.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

Discuss Bukowski's fixation on bodily functions in the following format:

Part 1) Sex with many different partners.

Part 2) His anal fixation.

Part 3) The effects of long-term whiskey consumption.

Part 4) Sarah's use of Henry from "Six Inches."

Part 5) The premature aging of the hard-living.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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