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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. Why does the character above say that s/he feels so good with Wilder?

2. Where does Jack's oldest daughter live?

3. Which character says that you should not worry about toxic spills, but about cancer and radiation instead?

4. Which medical issue is Jack's doctor concerned with?

5. What is remarkable about the nuns Jack brings Willie to?

Short Essay Questions

1. Where does Jack drive Willie Mink and why?

2. Who is Willie Mink?

3. Where does Jack discover Babette's Dylar?

4. What is Orest Mercator trying to do?

5. Why is Denise concerned about Babette going running, and what does she do about it?

6. Why is Heinrich crouched outside on the roof at the beginning of Book 2?

7. Whom does Jack give the sample of Dylar to, and why?

8. Why does Jack follow Winnie Richards in Chapter 25? Are his reasons valid?

9. When Murray and Jack discuss the weird feelings they have about Howard, what are some of the things they mention that just do not feel right?

10. According to Jack, why does this family not have to worry about evacuating or being affected?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Murray is a secondary character who is nonetheless crucial to Jack's characterization and to the book's humor. Write an analytical essay that 1) offers a brief character sketch of Murray and 2) an analysis of the specific fictional techniques (setting/tone/mood, plot event/action, dialogue/interaction) that DeLillo employs to characterize Murray. Why is he important to this text?

Essay Topic 2

While Jack is obsessed with a mass-murderer, he is afraid of his own death. Babette seems to think that Jack's biology and jealousy make him predestined to be homicidal. Interrogate her claims, based on evidence from the text. Why does Jack resort to violence? What does it have to do with his academic obsession with Hitler and maybe even his J.A.K. persona? How does DeLillo use German and associations with Germany to explore Jack's fear?

Essay Topic 3

Compare and contrast Jack's wives. Write an essay that describes Dana, Janet, Tweedy and Babette in turn, and explains the ways in which they are similar or different. Why did Jack want to marry them? What caused conflicts in their marriages? What does this show readers about Jack?

(see the answer keys)

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