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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. Fill in the blank: Bukowski and Madge win big on Claremount III and __________.

2. How does Blanchard attempt to relieve himself of his obsession with the little girl?

3. Which assassination or assassinations does Hitler claim to have been behind in "Swastika?"

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

5. Why does Harry reckon he is going to have to kill Ginny and Duke?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bukowski refuse to acquaint himself with Gramercy Edwards in "A Drinking Partner?"

2. How and why does Vasquez extend his hospitality to Lincoln and Andrew?

3. Why does Marie take in Charlie in "A Lovely Love Affair?"

4. What is the fate of the president after the surgeries are completed?

5. Describe Tito and Baby.

6. Who is Ginny?

7. What happens to Blanchard after the attack?

8. What are the logistics of Harry's plan to recover the gold from the artillery range?

9. What leads up to Bukowski never seeing Jeff again in "A Drinking Partner?"

10. What happens when Bukowski decides to not correct the visitors' assumption that he himself is Andre?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Bukowski write primarily about people who live on the outskirts of society? What does this suggest about his personal relationship to society? How is this reflected in stories such as "All the Great Writers" and "The Birth, Life, and Death of an Underground Newspaper?" What are some ways that Bukowski allows his writing to infuse poetry into places and people from whom it might not be ordinarily expected? How is this a reflection upon not only Bukowski's skills, but his views on society?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss the themes of life and death in Bukowski's stories in the following format:

Part 1) Cass's suicide.

Part 2) Harry and his cigarettes.

Part 3) Tanya's "death."

Part 4) The body in "The Copulating Mermaid of Venice, California."

Part 5) The fates of Tito and Baby.

Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

Essay Topic 3

What role does alcohol play in Bukowski's stories? Specifically, describe Bukowski's relationship with alcohol. In what ways does this inspire and stifle his creativity? What are some of the symptoms of his alcoholism? How does this affect his health and life? How does Bukowski himself feel about his reliance on alcohol? Does his alcohol inform his writing or impair? Why or why not? Cite specific examples from the text to support your answers.

(see the answer keys)

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