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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. In Note of a Potential Suicide, what event does Bukowksi remember attending as a boy?

2. What does Bukowski say in Notes on a Pest that every man has inside him?

3. In A Popular Man, who does a man tell Bukowski that his wife has been having an affair with?

4. What happens at the end of Beers and Poets and Talk?

5. What emotion does Bukowski observe on the racetrack coupled with joy in Flower Horse?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Bukowski's idea of justness in his society?

2. What does Bukowski think of people's taste in music?

3. What does Bukowski hallucinate, and what is it associated with in The Blanket?

4. What else does Bukowski realize about himself when he sees Luke in I Shot a Man in Reno?

5. What happens when Bukowski is discovered with Mary in Purple as an Iris?

6. What does Bukowski think of sex in Purple as an Iris?

7. How do the older men contrast with the younger ones in The Big Pot Game?

8. What does Bukowski think of current poets and comic strips in Eyes Like the Sky?

9. Why does Bukowski not go to the race track as planned in A Rain of Women?

10. How does Bukowski feel next to Jim in I Shot a Man in Reno?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Notes on the Pest" focuses mainly on Bukowski's fans and his relationship with them. How would you describe his relationship with his fans, and how do you think his fans would describe it? You may use examples or evidence from other stories that describe his relationship with his fans.

Essay Topic 2

Insanity is a theme that runs throughout many stories in Tales of Ordinary Madness, but it is especially prominent in "Night Streets of Madness." How is insanity displayed in this story? Give at least two examples. What does Bukowski think of these insane actions? Which act of insanity is the worst in Bukwoski's opinion? Make sure you answer each question with evidence and support from the story.

Essay Topic 3

Symbolism can be found throughout Tales of Ordinary Madness. Choose two different stories to describe symbols from. What do those symbols you chose represent? How do they contrast in comparison to their surroundings? Make sure you answer each question with evidence and support from the stories.

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