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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. Who does Claude meet in the precinct?

2. What does Irene say her son has done since leaving college?

3. How much time does Ignatius spend in college?

4. What does Sana say she does not trust?

5. What is the title of Ignatius' new project?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are Gus's criticisims of his wife?

2. What does Chapter 1establish about Irene and Ignatius' relationship?

3. Why does Ignatius reject the idea of a mortgage?

4. How has Ignatius tried to bring peace to his house?

5. What does Ignatius write in The Journal of a Working Boy?

6. Why does Ignatius decide to accept the job at Levy Pants?

7. How does the beginning of the novel immediately show Irene as an eccentric, but neurotic woman?

8. Describe Ignatuis and Irene's car accident.

9. How must George adapt to Jones' presence at the bar?

10. What kind of impression do you think Ignatius gives to people around him?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine Toole's humor. What meaning does it give to the novel? What would the story be like without humor? Does it have any dramatic impact? Does the humor cover any deficiencies, for example, in the plot structure?

Essay Topic 2

Look at the novel's characterization. How well drawn do you think Toole's characters are? Select one of the minor characters such as Claude and discuss how much you know about his background. In what ways does Toole provide the reader with information about that character?

Essay Topic 3

Look at the structure of the novel.

2) Discuss elements of the narrative structure; Exposition, conflict, complication, climax, resolution and conclusion. Do all the elements make for a logical and linear story? How does the story's structure express the novel's themes?

3) Away from the main character Ignatius examine the way Toole uses the other characters in the story. Does she use him or her for dramatic effect or comic aside? When does she introduce and take them away from the story? What effect does it have on the story?

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