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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. In Victory on New Year's Day, who is soon coming to stay at Stevie's flat?

2. How is Billy connected to the character's in previous chapters?

3. With whom does Sick Boy have sex in The Skag Boys?

4. Describe Renton's relationship with Hazel.

5. From whose point-of-view is Inner Shitty?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Renton discover the morning after having sex with Dianne?

2. How does Sick Boy dictate activities in The Skag Boys?

3. How does Davie ruin breakfast in Traditional English Breakfast?

4. Describe Renton and Spuds' tiff and reconciliation in this chapter.

5. How do Begbie and Renton pass the time on the train in Inner Shitty?

6. Why is Stevie sad on New Years?

7. How do Renton and Sick Boy pick up girls in In Overdrive?

8. How does Begbie respond to the groups when they don't want to rob a tourist?

9. Why is Tommy worried about his girlfriend in Scotland Takes Drugs in Psychic Defense?

10. How do the junkies react to the tragedy that occurs in It Goes Without Saying?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Throughout the novel, Welsh juxtaposes the somber and the irreverent. In an essay, discuss three instances in which a moment of deep gravity is undercut by humor or some other undermining element? Why do you think Welsh chooses to undermine his own emotional moments? What is he indicating about life and the bonds that connect us?

Essay Topic 2

Selfishness is a constant theme of Irvine Welsh's Trainspotting. Individuals forge friendships and relationships, but they hold their own self-interest far ahead of anyone else's well-being. Write an essay on the topic of selfishness, in three parts:

Part 1) Who does Sick Boy use over the course of Trainspotting? Discuss his relationship with Alison, his role as a pimp, and his treatment of Renton in his time of need. What goals does Sick Boy have as an individual, and who does he betray to achieve them?

Part 2) Discuss the role of Frank Begbie in the novel. Who does he use in order to find profit and pleasure in his life? What does he leave behind in order to live life unfettered? How does this reflect his values and objectives?

Part 3) In summation, discuss the final chapter of the novel. How and why does Renton betray all of his friends? What does he gain? How does he justify this betrayal in the closing moments of the novel?

Essay Topic 3

The lingering fear of the heroin culture of Trainspotting is HIV/AIDS. Write an essay discussing the way AIDS affects the lives of three characters in the novel. How does each character contract the syndrome? Does he maintain his health? Is he alive at the end of the novel? Discuss the methods this character uses to cope with AIDS.

Part 1) Davie

Part 2) Tommy

Part 3) Matty

(see the answer keys)

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