View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. In "Gay Paree" what does Chinaski describe?

2. Chinaski tells the story of a jockey from which state in "Trying to Make It"?

3. Which item is a better companion than any women Chinaski can imagine?

4. Chinaski concludes that he owes his life to whom?

5. In "The Beautiful Lady Editor," who writes to Chinaski telling him he deserves to be miserable?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. Is Bukowski seixst? Why or why not?

4. Describe Chinaski's self-esteem.

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

6. What does the lion in "Invasion" represent?

7. What does Chinaski say about lost pleasure?

8. Why is the title "Practice" clever?

9. What common theme runs through the poems "Practice," "My Buddy," John Edgar Webb," and "Love Poem to a Stripper"?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Make an argument for or against Bukowski being misogynistic. Use at least three specific pieces of evidence from the text.

Essay Topic 2

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?

Essay Topic 3

Analyze Chinaski's domestic life. Is domestic life portrayed as positive or negative? Is Chinaski's opinion of domestic life genuine? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 733 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample