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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. When the thief in the boarding house tries to rob Chinaski, how does he get back at him?

2. According to Chinaski in "Drive Through Hell," the adjective which describes all of humanity is ________.

3. When Chinaski writes, who or what accompanies him?

4. Where is the hotel room in "A Good Time"?

5. How old was Chinaski when he took a trip to Tijuana?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What is significant about the poems following "The Master Plan" in terms of imagery?

4. What happens in "The Passing of a Great One" and "The Wine of Forever"?

5. What is the poem "Together" about?

6. What is Chinaski's view of solitude?

7. Describe the message of "For the Concerned."

8. Describe the overall tone and themes of the poems in Bukowski's book.

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

10. How is Chinaski portrayed in "Zero"?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Bukowski respond to his critics? When he responds to critics, is he genuine? Is he fair? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Describe the way in which Bukowski uses gallows humor, vaudeville, and irony in at least two of his poems. Find at least two specific examples from each of these two poems.

Essay Topic 3

What is the significance of the poem "Invasion"? What does the lion in the poem symbolize? What is the message of this poem, and how do you know?

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