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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Who is Emily Bukowski?
(a) Bukowski's sister.
(b) Bukowski's grandmother.
(c) Bukowski's wife.
(d) Bukowski's mother.

2. Which of the following is the setting for "Red Mercedes" and a frequent setting in Bukowski's work?
(a) Casino.
(b) Hotel.
(c) Race track.
(d) Chinaski's father's house.

3. In "Glenn Miller," Chinaski recalls what kind of shop?
(a) Book shop.
(b) Sports shop.
(c) Bicycle shop.
(d) Soda shop.

4. Where is Chinaski in "Sunny Side Down"?
(a) A park.
(b) A movie theater.
(c) A diner.
(d) A grocery store.

5. How much does Chinaski owe to the IRS?
(a) 3,000 dollars.
(b) 7,000 dollars.
(c) 14,000 dollars.
(d) 10,000 dollars.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Red Mercedes," what does the passenger hand the driver of the car from the glove box?

2. According to Chinaski, all rage and destructiveness is transformed into which of the following?

3. In which poem does Bukowski relate his famous origin story?

4. What is Chinaski's justification for indolence and excess?

5. Saroyan insists that in order for him to write he needs to ______________.

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the role of loss in Bukowski's poetry.

2. What is Chinaski's view of solitude?

3. What relationships are defined in "A Non-urgent Poem" and "For My Ivy League Friends"?

4. Describe Chinaski's feelings for John Fante.

5. Describe the message Bukowski presents in "Darkness."

6. In his poems, Bukowski acknowledges that all people have what, and why?

7. Describe Chinaski's view of humanity.

8. What metaphor does Chinaski use to symbolize modern America?

9. How does Chinaski feel about Joe O'Brien, and how does he react to his death?

10. Which poems best reflect Chinaski's connection to generations of artists preceding him and why?

(see the answer keys)

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