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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. How does Mr. Durant react to Rose's announcement that she will not return and does not want to see him again?

2. In the poem "The Trifler," who would the narrator like to take as a lover?

3. What does the young man in "The Waltz" offer to do after the band stops playing?

4. In the poem "I Shall Come Back," from where will the narrator return?

5. According to the poem "Fighting Words," what would cause the narrator to desert her lover?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the story "Dusk Before Fireworks," why does Kit try to pretend that she is not bothered by the attention that other women pay to Hobie?

2. In "The Standard of Living," why does Midge become so upset over Annabel's imaginary purchase of a silver fox coat, and what does her reaction suggest about her personality?

3. Why does the young bride in the short story "Here We Are" worry about the fact that so many people get married every day?

4. What does Mr. Durant's response to the dog reveal about him?

5. Why is the girl in "The Sexes" rude to the young man?

6. Why does the woman in "The Waltz" agree to dance with the young man even though she does not want to?

7. Describe the role of Mrs. Whittaker in the story "The Wonderful Old Gentleman."

8. What is the cause of the underlying tension between the young bride and the groom in "Here We Are"?

9. What does the short story "The Sexes" reveal about the relationship between the young man and the girl he is dating?

10. How does "A Telephone Call" reinforce Dorothy Parker's perspective regarding the relationship between men and women?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Dorothy Parker often portrays the relationship between men and women as adversarial. Support this observation by providing and analyzing evidence from both her short stories and her poetry. Be sure to use specific examples and quotations when appropriate.

Essay Topic 2

Examine Dorothy Parker's "Self Portrait" and her letters. What do these pieces reveal about her as a person? How do these revelations compare to the themes and characters that she writes about? Be sure to include specific examples and quotations to support these observations.

Essay Topic 3

One of Dorothy Parker's favorite criticism is of hypocrisy. Her stories, poetry, and essays often focus on people who behave in ways that are contrary to their professed values. Examine Parker's criticism of hypocrisy in all three genres. How do the different genres support the same perspective? In what ways are these approaches similar? In what ways are they different? Be sure to support your points with examples and quotations from the text.

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