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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 Buddy never want to see?

2. What does Buddy ask the Brewitts to do with his coat?

3. Crawley is a ______.

4. What is Webb's primary concern about Buddy being missing?

5. When does Webb finally come to see Buddy play?

Short Essay Questions

1. How did Buddy become obsessed with death?

2. What does Buddy's world look like?

3. What is thematically significant about Crawley's interview?

4. What kind of performer is Buddy?

5. Who does Buddy care about more: Nora or Robin?

6. Why did Buddy and Webb's dynamic change?

7. Why does Ondaatje use the historical references of Bricktop Jackson, "One-Legged Duffy," Rich, Olivia the Oyster Dancer, and French Emma?

8. Is Buddy predictable? How so?

9. What do Buddy and Webb have in common? In what ways do they approach life similarly?

10. What is the significance of Buddy's hands in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Driving forces in "Coming Through Slaughter" are the ties between Buddy's relationships and mirrored experiences. Discuss what role interconnection plays in the book and how it impacts the overall narrative and what impact it has on our perception.

Essay Topic 2

Buddy is often a victim of his own doing. Discuss Buddy's helplessness. What is the cause of this? What role does it play?

Essay Topic 3

Buddy is not prone to violence. In prison, he abstains from the destructive behaviors of his peers. However, he does fantasize about violence. Discuss Buddy in relation to violence. How does he approach it? Why does he abstain but fantasize?

(see the answer keys)

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