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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. Who does Paul talk to at the beginning of Chapter 4?

2. Where does Lotterman send Paul to do some research?

3. Where does Sala have a freelance job in this chapter?

4. What was the name of Al's pianist?

5. What is the name of Yeamon's girlfriend?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why can Paul not work at the beginning of this chapter?

2. What does Paul do on his first day at the newspaper?

3. What gives the reader the idea that Paul intends to stay in San Juan?

4. How does Paul try to get revenge on Segarra?

5. Summarize Chapter 3.

6. Why has Paul Kemp come to San Juan?

7. What problems do Paul, Sala and Yeaman run into at the bar?

8. Describe how Al built up his business.

9. What does Sala tell Paul at Al's?

10. What do Paul and Sala do at the casino?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What similarities does the Rum Diary share with Hunter S. Thompson's later work in terms of the following:

1) Style

2) Themes

3) Politics

Essay Topic 2

Compare life in 1960s Puerto Rico to life in Puerto Rico today. How has it changed? What caused these changes to take place? What would Paul's life be like in Puerto Rico if he went there today?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

1) How does Thompson use character and dialogue to drive the narrative?

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure: exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Aside from the main character, examine the way Thompson uses the other characters in the story. When does he introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

(see the answer keys)

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