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. What does Cy see in the discharge basin one day?

2. From what do most of the boarders at Cy's home suffer?

3. What's the only way Riley would consider himself a father figure to Cy?

4. Who is Muriel?

5. Why do women trust Riley?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Riley tell Cy about Michelangelo?

2. There are many instances of foreshadowing in this opening section. Name one and venture a guess as to what it could foreshadow.

3. Describe the type of clients that are often drawn to Riley's tattoo parlor.

4. Describe Riley's death and Cy's response.

5. How does Cy slip into starting to tattoo instead of just watching Riley and what is Riley's response?

6. What does Jonty say about Riley; is it likely to be true?

7. Why do many women come to Riley's tattoo parlor?

8. What marks Cy's transition from boyhood to manhood?

9. Of what are Cy's earliest memories?

10. Describe Cy's first interest in a girl and why it is disappointing.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In part one, "Bloodlights," there is imagery surrounding the color red and blood; the basins of red expectorant; the blood from abortions; the red of the Aurora Borealis lights. Since even in this chapter most readers know that the story is about a tattoo artist, red seems to be a compelling color to wrap around the novel. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Follow the images of blood and the color red that occurs throughout the novel and interpret the individual images and then write an analysis of the symbolic meaning of the color red and blood.

2. Write an essay on the use of symbols in this book. Choose three symbols that seem important and discuss their significance and meaning, using specific examples. How does the use of the symbols enhance your understanding of textual meaning? Or does it? How would the text change if the symbols were not used?

3. Write an essay on the use of symbols in our everyday life. Choose several symbols that seem universal to American culture and discuss their significance and meaning. Why are symbols used? Are they a sort of shorthand to express concepts? Use specific examples.

Essay Topic 2

In Part 2, "History's Ink," Malcolm Sedak pours acid upon Grace. Choose one of the following questions and write a well-developed, cohesive essay using examples from the text, your research or personal experience:

1. What foreshadowing is there to warn the readers of the scene at the opening to "History's Ink" when Grace is horribly attacked? Give examples and why you think the examples foreshadow the event. Do you think something as intense as this scene needs to be foreshadowed? Why or why not?

2. Discuss the various responses to the attack. Was Claudia justified in beating Sedak? How about Henry giving Grace morphine or Cy believing he has to stay in the hospital or Grace will die? What do you think was Grace's thoughts about it as she lies in the hospital?

Essay Topic 3

This book is as much about ideas as action/events, if not more so. Choose one of the following ideas and write a persuasive essay using examples from the text and your research or personal experience:

1. Tattooing is as valid an art form as any seen in an art museum. (An idea woven throughout the entire book).

2. Horror, sin, evil and lunacy is truth on a par with the love of God and beatific goodness. (An idea found in Part 1, "The Kaiser and the Queen of Morecambe.")

3. America requires voyeurism in every attraction, because it substitutes emotion for thought. (An idea found in Part 2, "Babylon in Brooklyn.")

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,480 words (approx. 5 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample