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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. Where does Benny get an interview?

2. What does Gaucho offer the two men to help them succeed in their plan?

3. What does Rachel Owlglass do for a living in New York City?

4. Who does Rachel live with in her apartment?

5. Who are the Playboys?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Morris Teflon and what is his role in Chapter 1?

2. What is the urban legend that Benny Profane actually does?

3. What does Hugo Bongo-Shaftsbury talk to Mildred about on the train in Egypt?

4. How is the apathy of the Whole Sick Crew evident in Winsome's behavior?

5. Why does Rachel go to see Dr. Schoenmaker's profession and why does it upset her?

6. What is Fairing's Parish and how did it get its name?

7. What is Vheissu?

8. Why does Profane leave his friends?

9. Describe Lepsius.

10. What is Herbert Stencil's purpose?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Both Benny and Stencil are two of the most active characters.

Part 1) What is their relationship? How do they co-exist and how do they interact? What is similar about them and what is different?

Part 2) What are some events that Stencil had a direct influence upon? What are some events that Benny had a direct influence upon?

Part 3) Which character offers support to the Whole Sick Crew? Which one is stronger and why?

Essay Topic 2

Pynchon constantly brings up metaphors and imagery associated with the supernatural. Give 3 examples of how the supernatural is portrayed.

Essay Topic 3

The author uses more than one iteration on the motif of life-death-life. Identify at least two examples of the motifs about life-death-life in the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 680 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample