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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. According to the critic, what water recreation was O'Shawn fond of?

2. Which president of the United States does Flo dance on the same stage with?

3. What tropical island does Gauguin head off for after a fight?

4. What hope did O'Shawn's mother have for him?

5. How are Bob and Wendy Fate dressed as in the play?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Vincent Van Gogh's profession in this story and how does he feel about it?

2. What are some of the strange interpretations the critic pulls from O'Shawn's work?

3. How did the phrase "humble pie" originate?

4. What is the story of the origins of the phrase "get into beef"?

5. How was Clifford Wheel killed? How was the killer discovered?

6. What idea does Trichinosis bring to the play?

7. What are some theories regarding Anne Hathaway that are presented in "But Soft...Real Soft"?

8. What poem is being critiqued and what does the author say about the poet's works?

9. Who is Claire Memling and what is Vincent Van Gogh's relationship with her?

10. What importance does the critic put on the names mentioned in O'Shawn's poem and what does the critic try to do each time he sees a name?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Briefly define absurdist fiction and it's history. How does absurdist fiction differ from fiction? Give two examples of absurdist fiction in "Without Feathers"?

Essay Topic 2

Please define parody as a literary category. What are three examples of parody found in "Without Feathers" and what are they parodying?

Essay Topic 3

Please explain how the idea of love is presented in "A Guide to Some of The Lesser Ballets." Please compare and contrast how love is presented in these ballets to how love is typically presented in ballets.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 759 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample