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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. Where does "My Buddy" take place?

2. In "Seize the Day," what makes the grotesque man popular?

3. How many cats does Chinaski claim to own?

4. In "The Boil," for whom does Chinaski work?

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

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the theme of solitude present in "Party's Over," "No Nonsense," and "Escape."

2. Is Bukowski seixst? Why or why not?

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

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. Describe the poem "Invasion."

8. How does Bukowski use gallows humor and vaudeville in his poems?

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

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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

Essay Topic 3

Describe Bukowski's overall view of the world. Why does he see the world as mostly negative? What things are positive in the world, according to Bukowski? Why?

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