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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. What kind of magazines does Chinaski write for in "O Tempora! O Mores!"?
(a) Home improvement magazines.
(b) Outdoor magazines.
(c) Women's magazines.
(d) Pornographic magazines.

2. In "The Crazy Truth," Chinaski recalled seeing a pedestrian verbally abuse a man in what color car?
(a) Blue.
(b) Green.
(c) Red.
(d) White.

3. Where is the hotel room in "A Good Time"?
(a) Las Vegas.
(b) Los Angeles.
(c) New York.
(d) Miami.

4. Who is most fond of motivational cliches?
(a) Chinaski's mentor.
(b) Chinaski's mother.
(c) Chinaski's father.
(d) Chinaski.

5. In which poem does Bukowski relate his famous origin story?
(a) "The Master Plan."
(b) "Garbage."
(c) "My Vanishing Act."
(d) "Zero."

Short Answer Questions

1. Which of the following adjectives best describes Chinaski of the present in "Zero"?

2. Chinaski assures the readers that even though he writes less about drinking and prostitutes, what is still intact?

3. In "Shoes," what does the young man think of the shoes?

4. Whom does Chinaski seem to think deserves better than any other man?

5. What kind of women does "Poor Al" date?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does "The Master Plan" reveal about Chinaski?

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

3. How do many of the poems seem to serve as a defense of listlessness?

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

5. Describe the events of the poem "Stride."

6. What does Chinaski point out in "Termites of the Page"?

7. How is the Chinaski of 1986 described?

8. Why does Chinaski view criticism in a dismissive manner?

9. What recurring motif is made most apparent in "Rift"?

10. What is Chinaski's view of solitude?

(see the answer keys)

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