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. Who does the narrator of "Firestone" claim is trying to make his job at the service station difficult?

2. What is Glen's initial impression of Drew Pierson in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter"?

3. In "We Get Along", what does Evelyne encourage her son to do next time he sees Mrs. Spakey, his former teacher?

4. How often is "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter" published?

5. The phrases "'I hope it doesn't tire him out'" and "'the original boob tube'" in "Firestone" are examples of...

Short Essay Questions

1. What prompts Mr. Holt to send Chad to Mr. Chatam for guitar lessons in "My Manuscript"?

2. Describe the instances of "homophobia" that Glen believes he experiences after speaking with Drew on the phone in "Glen's Homophobia Newsletter".

3. In "Music for Lovers", why does the narrator often give his daughter stitches? What does he recommend when giving someone stitches?

4. Describe Chad's father's childhood in "My Manuscript".

5. Retell the story about the student priest that Mr. Holt tells Chad in "My Manuscript".

6. In "We Get Along", what do the narrator and his mother do late at night? Why?

7. What is Chad's relationship with Terry Glassman in "My Manuscript"?

8. Describe The Sportsman in "We Get Along".

9. What perplexes Carlton about the narrator's unwillingness to correct his vision loss in "Firestone"?

10. Describe the narrator of "The Last You'll Hear From Me".

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In many of the stories in "Barrel Fever", Sedaris uses hyperbole (exaggeration) to make points. Select 3 of the stories in which the author uses hyperbole and:

1) describe the ways in which hyperbole is used in the stories,

2) compare and contrast the use of hyperbole in each story, and

3) discuss the impact of hyperbole on the reader's experience of the stories.

Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 2

Many of Sedaris' stories encourage his readers to re-examine their views about gender and sexuality. Select 2 of the stories from "Barrel Fever" and:

1) discuss how the story goes against conventional/traditional views of gender and/or sexuality, and

2) discuss the new version of gender/sexuality offered by the author.

Be sure to use evidence from the stories to support your ideas.

Essay Topic 3

Several of the stories in this collection offer a commentary on relationships. Select three of the stories in which this commentary is developed and:

1) explain what the stories say about relationships,

2) demonstrate how the author develops this commentary in the story, and

3) respond to the author's commentary: Do you agree or disagree with him? Why?

Be sure to use specific examples from the stories to support your ideas.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,066 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample