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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. Generally, how does Hank's father deal with Hank?

2. After talking to the goose, and then to Leo, Hank heads for the cafeteria. He meets Meg there. Who is Meg the daughter of?

3. What does Leo aspire to be?

4. In Chapter 4, Hank has a telephone conversation with someone who he suspects is drunk. Who is this person?

5. In the cafeteria, what does Meg tell Hank she might do?

Short Essay Questions

1. In the Prologue, how does Hank explain that his life was not easy as a child?

2. When Hank finally gets home, what is his daughter doing? What message does he find on his answering machine?

3. Hank goes to see Dickie Pope. Who is Pope and what nickname does the staff give to his office? What does Hank do in his office? What does Pope hint to Hank?

4. What did Henry, as his parents called him, really want when he was a child? How did he go about convincing them to fulfill his dream?

5. Why is Hank under pressure from his department colleagues at the beginning of the book? What does this result in at a staff meeting?

6. After visiting with Mr. Purty and then his mother, Hank plays racquetball with another professor, Tony Coniglia. What happens after their game?

7. After meeting with his colleagues and before Hank leaves his office to go home, Hank looks around his office and reminisces about his stint as interim chair. What is his assessment?

8. Who does Hank meet at the local bowling alley for lunch? What do they talk about?

9. What is the narrator, Hank's, full name and what is his occupation? Where does he work?

10. What does Hank say in the Prologue about his father's life after the arrival of the dog? What does he say about his relationship with his father?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tone refers to the attitude of the narrator of a work. As the narrator of "Straight Man", what is the author's tone at different stages of the book? Explain the tone, with examples:

1) In the Prologue of Book One.

2) When he grabs Finny the Goose by the neck and holds him up for the television camera.

3) When he catches his son-in-law with Meg Quigley.

4) In the Epilogue.

Essay Topic 2

How are Hank's father and mother characterized in the Prologue? As the novel progresses, how does their relationship with Hank follow the same patterns as it did when he was a child?

Essay Topic 3

Why do you think Richard Russo included an Epilogue in "Straight Man"? (i.e., what do you think his intent was?) Give three reasons why you believe the Epilogue is an effective way to end the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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