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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 nice thing does Gus and Abbot do?

2. What causes Paul to feel guilty about his relationship with Kite?

3. How does Paul discover that homosexuality exists beyond his own world?

4. How does Paul collaborate with the enemy that makes fun of Jews?

5. From the following, what opportunity does Paul get from Yale?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Paul's dating affect him and everyone else around him as well?

2. How does Paul change as soon as he attends college?

3. Even after befriending gays in the theatre troupe why does Paul feel the need to continue to stay in the closet?

4. What are Monette's two childhood memories before age six? In hindsight, what do these memories indicate to Paul Monette as an adult?

5. What does Bobby's education consist of? How does he show appreciation for the Marland sisters many years later?

6. Describe Andover, MA as Monette grows up. How does Paul's childhood neighborhood affect his decision to not come out with his sexual orientation?

7. As Paul plays as child, what causes an argument between his mother and father? How does each of them feel about Paul's playing habits?

8. How does Paul relate to Jarrel's poem "The Woman at the Washington Zoo?"

9. Compare and contrast Paul and Kite's relationship to Paul and Richie's relationship.

10. What is Paul's reaction and determination as Sean spends more time with alone or with Amy during summer break in California?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The title of the book is "Becoming a Man: Half a Life Story." How does Paul define "man?" How does it change over time as he learns more about himself and what it really means? What other definitions of "man" influence Paul's view of being a man? Does he ever achieve it? How does he find what it means to be a "man?"

Essay Topic 2

Paul has different sexual experiences before he comes out of the closet. After each encounter, Paul seems to have a sense of guilt and shame. This feeling is consistent even when the other man involved is nice. Why does Paul always react this way? Where does it stem from? What causes this guilt to arise?

Essay Topic 3

Paul grows up in a middle class family but earns privileges with scholarships to Philips Academy and Yale. Explain how Paul's taste for life changes from his middle class Andover background.

(see the answer keys)

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