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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 did the dog do soon after it arrived at Hank's?

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

3. When Hank is in his mother's basement, what kind of physical reaction does he have?

4. Why does Hank consider that he was a difficult child?

5. How does Hank deal with the people who stop him on his way out of his office?

Short Essay Questions

1. 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?

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

3. When he was eight, Hank's father did get a dog for him. What was the dog like, where did Mr. Devereaux get it, and what was Hank's reaction? Why did he react that way?

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

5. Where is the second place Hank goes to the night of his television report? What happens there? What does Hank end up doing?

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

7. 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?

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

9. 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?

10. What kinds of thoughts does Wheemer generate in Hank?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

The setting refers to the time and the place where a story takes place. Compare and contrast the settings of "Straight Man" regarding time. How does it compare to the childhood he describes in the Epilogue to Book One? Cite at least three examples from the book where Russo discusses how the setting, in reference to time, has changed.

Essay Topic 2

Cite four examples for both exposition and rising action from the novel. What is the balance of these two elements in Straight Man? Is there too much of one at the expense of the other? If so, describe the balance of the two.

Essay Topic 3

Hank seems to suppress anger during most the novel, but at times his anger and frustration do surface. Cite three examples of Hank's anger, and what transpires as a result.

(see the answer keys)

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