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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. In "Starting Fast," what does Chinaski ruminate on?

2. Whom does Chinaski say he loves in "Supposedly Famous"?

3. In "Working It Out," who is Gregory Peck portraying on television?

4. What is the name of Chinaski's friend in "The Stride"?

5. In "My Friend, The Parking Lot Attendant," where does the attendant work?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

4. What is Chinaski's view of solitude?

5. How does Chinaski juxtapose "Stride" and "The Final Story"?

6. Which poem expresses a counterpoint of an indulgent and listless life?

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

8. What is the poem "Shoes" about?

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

10. What is the poem "Together" about?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What are some of the themes evident in the poems Bukowski has written? Identify at least three of these themes and provide specific examples from the text showing how the theme is created.

Essay Topic 2

Describe Chinaski's connection of populism to his distaste for the Lost Generation. In what other ways does Chinaski exhibit populism?

Essay Topic 3

What unifying statement does Bukowski use in his work? Why do you think it is significant to have a unifying statement? Is it a genuine statement? Why or why not?

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