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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. What is the name of the subdivision that Hank and his wife live in?

2. Why is one of Hank's daughters concerned about her mother going out of town for an interview?

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

4. What are the names of Hank's daughters?

5. Why does he think his father might have had this affliction?

Short Essay Questions

1. After visiting the duck pond, Hank heads to the cafeteria. Who does he meet there? What is Hank's history with this person? What do they talk about?

2. What events transpired after the dog arrived at the Devereaux home?

3. Who is driving Hank home and what do they pass on their way? Where does Hank live?

4. The morning after his news debut, Hank realizes the film has been shown on Good Morning, America, much to everyone's amusement. Hank heads to see Campbell Wheemer. What is Hank's nickname for Wheemer? Why does he call him that? How is Wheemer a contrast to Hank?

5. When Hank gets home from his visit to Julie, he has a conversation with Billy Quigley. What are Billy's characteristics and what is the conversation about?

6. When Hank gets home from the staff meeting, who is he greeted by? What does Hank find amusing about Teddy's reaction?

7. 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?

8. After having lunch at the bowling alley, Hank goes to see his mother, but first visits with Mr. Purty. Who is Mr. Purty and what does he give Hank?

9. When Hank gets back to his office, after meeting with Bodie, what does he tell his secretary? What does Rachel tell him and what does Hank do about this?

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

How does Hank relate the anecdote about his childhood dog so that it blends the adult Hank and the young Hank? If "the child is the father of the man", what was it about Hank's childhood that contributed to how the adult Hank views the world?

Essay Topic 2

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 3

What role does the Devereaux family play in the novel "Straight Man"? Are they as important to the narrative as the author and the environment he is in? Give four examples where the four different members of the family are central to the story-telling. Give four examples where the narrative is focused only on Hank and the environment he works in.

(see the answer keys)

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