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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. What happens to Chinaski in "Everybody Talks Too Much"?

2. Chinaski consoles himself that many men become which of the following over time?

3. Chinaski likes the editor in one of the poems even though she is which of the following?

4. What is the name of Chinaski's other friend in "Song'?

5. At the end of "Someday I'm Going to Write a Primer . . ." Chinaski declares his love to whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Bukowski's portrayal of populism in his poems.

2. Describe the events in the poem "The Boil."

3. Describe the argument that Bukowski makes in "Fractional Note."

4. What metaphor is used in the poem "Seize the Day"?

5. Describe the feelings Bukowski portrays in "Party's Over."

6. Describe Chinaski's feelings for the woman in "The Beautiful Lady Editor."

7. How are "Hard Times" and "Concrete" juxtaposed?

8. Is Bukowski seixst? Why or why not?

9. Why is "An Ordinary Poem" significant in terms of defining Chinaski?

10. What does Chinaski say about lost pleasure?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Why does Chinaski lack trust for humanity? What message do you think Bukowski sends in giving Chinaski this distrust?

Essay Topic 2

Discuss and analyze one metaphor that Chinaski has created in one of his poems to relate to modern American culture and interactions.

Essay Topic 3

Assess the theme of destruction in this collection of poems. What types of things are destroyed? What types of things are preserved? What does this say about Bukowski?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 773 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample