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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 says that Buddy Winkler's look while preaching "Makes me feel like he wants to chew the elastic outta my underpants"?

2. Where is Painted Stick abandoned?

3. Where is the first place Ellen Cherry goes after she leaves art school?

4. What happens when Boomer and Ellen Cherry are in the western bar?

5. What is Jezebel's common reputation?

Short Essay Questions

1. Patsy suspects Buddy of seeking fame and fortune through his preaching. Does this seem likely to you, based on what you know so far about Buddy?

2. Why does Boomer turn an airstream into a Turkey?

3. Explain the symbolism of the I & I.

4. When Ellen Cherry reflects on Boomer's fear that she loves art more than him, she admits that it's true, but adds that she loves art more than herself too. What does this tell us about Ellen Cherry and about her opinion of art?

5. Why do you think that Ellen Cherry covers a nude portrait of Boomer with tongues?

6. Can 'o Beans says that "imprecise speech is one of the major causes of mental illness in human beings." What do you think is meant by this?

7. The first line in this section is "the pendulum swung yet again." It is referring to Can 'o Beans account of religious history. What does this suggest about religion?

8. What do you think is significant about the fact that Boomer and Ellen Cherry wake up Painted Stick and Conch Shell?

9. What do we learn about Buddy and Verlin when they forcefully remove Ellen Cherry from her art class?

10. Robbins writes, "Those people who recognize that imagination is reality's master, we call 'sages', and those who act upon it, we call 'artists.'" What do you think he means by this and why is the distinction important?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does nature figure into this novel? Consider the instances where people or objects come into contact with nature or natural forces. For example, when the objects are making their way to New York, they encounter several natural obstacles along the way. Do these events (or others that involve contact with nature) have a significance beyond their function in the plot? For example, is the natural world a place where things are possible that aren't in the city? Are the events individually symbolic?

Essay Topic 2

A lot of time is spent in this novel considering the role of perception on reality. What relationship does the novel suggest exists between an individual's perception or interpretation and reality or truth? Cite at least three specific examples to support your position.

Essay Topic 3

How does the historical perspective provided by the objects, Spike, and Abu influence the way we perceive the events of the story? Is the story be the same without Robbins' historical account and interpretation of the conflict in Jerusalem? In what ways is it different? Cite at least three specific examples where the historical background has a significant impact on the reader's understanding of the narrative.

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