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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 happened to the money people sent to Mitchell for the "cave dwellers"?

2. Who started Barbee's business?

3. James Hall's requests mostly came from what kind of person?

4. What last name did Mazie choose?

5. What is the name of Jane's husband?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why did Mitchell lose interest in Joe?

2. Describe Hugh Flood's thoughts about death.

3. Describe Philippa's parents and situation at home.

4. After Peggy talks to the little girl, why does she ask the bartender to walk her home?

5. What does Jim's companion teach him in "The Kind Old Blonde"?

6. What tone does Mitchell use to discuss the personalities in Up in the Old Hotel and Other Stories?

7. What assumption does Mitchell make about the cave dwellers?

8. What are Mitchell's feelings about the privacy of his subjects?

9. Why is it significant that Mr. Flood is a compilation of people?

10. Which subject is the biggest supporter of the idea that things are always getting worse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the role naivety plays in some of the stories in this collection. Which stories and characters are most representative of naivety? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Many of Mitchell's stories involve the ocean or harvesting for seafood. To what extent is the ocean a symbol in Mitchell's stories? What does the ocean symbolize? Is it just a coincidence?

Essay Topic 3

Why is Hugh Flood a significant character? What characteristics are interesting in this subject? Why is it important to note that he is actually a compilation of different people Mitchell knows?

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