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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 did the young man speak to, according to Litotes?

2. What does the friend tell the young man he should do in Word-Composition?

3. What makes Synchysis more difficult to read?

4. How is the man's tone described in Synchysis?

5. Why did the author stop writing variations by 1946?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Wright say is the point of Exercises in Style?

2. Explain the variation titled "Notation."

3. What does the use of onomatopoeia in the variation "Onomatopoeia" accomplish for the reader?

4. What is an Alexandrine sonnet, and what are the rhyme scheme and meter used in "Alexandrines?"

5. What are the three reactions Barbara Wright received when she told people she was translating a book by Raymond Queneau?

6. Compare and contrast the two "Subjectivity" variations.

7. Explain some of the differences between "Official Letter" and "Blurb."

8. Why do you think the variation "Noble" is titled "Noble?"

9. Why do you think Queneau begins with the variation "Notation?"

10. In the Preface, what does Queneau say is his purpose in writing Exercises in Style? What did Queneau say the finished product acts as?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain why the young man, second man and the young man's friend are not given names in the story. Does this help or hurt the overall story? Why?

Essay Topic 2

Which of the variations is the most complex? Why? Use examples from the variations to support your claims.

Essay Topic 3

How does the author break down language--phrases and words--in the variations? What is the affect this process has?

(see the answer keys)

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