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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 wrote "The Crack-Up"?

2. Who wrote "On Being an American?"

3. M.F.K. Fisher's writing revolves around what subject?

4. What term best describes the type of literature written by Virginia Woolf?

5. Which famous author is mentioned in the essay "Once a Tramp, Always...?"

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Jose Luis Borges' perspective on his own increasing blindness, as revealed in his essay "Blindness?"

2. What style is James Thurber known for? What was a common theme in Thurber's writing?

3. What views is Henry David Thoreau well known for? How did he believe one should live one's life?

4. What level of literary output did G. K. Chesterton achieve in his lifetime?

5. What is Ivan Turgenev's opinion of capital punishment? How did Turgenev believe servants should be treated?

6. What two works of G. K. Chesterton are included in this volume? What are the subjects of these essays?

7. What are the particulars of Ivan Turgenev's "The Execution of Tropmann"?

8. Describe the important events in Lu Hsun's life that impacted his personal essays.

9. What tone does Mary McCarthy use in "My Confession?" How does she approach herself as well as the subjects of her essays?

10. How did Virginia Woolf's personal background impact her work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

"Essays in Idleness" by Kenko and "An Apology for Idlers" by Robert Louis Stevenson provide musings on idleness.

A) How does each author view idleness? Can idleness be valuable? What are the advantages and disadvantages of being idle?

B) Compare the forms of each essay. Kenko wrote a journal, while Stevenson is offering an "apology." How does form relate to content in each case?

Essay Topic 2

"The Fight" by William Hazlitt and "The Execution of Tropmann" by Ivan Turgenev are examples of sub-genres of the personal essay, reportage.

A) What makes each essay an example of reportage?

B) What is each author's opinion on what they are reporting? Are they intrigued, disgusted, objective, etc.?

C) Compare and contrast the tones in both pieces. How does tone relate to reportage?

Essay Topic 3

"Street Haunting" by Virginia Woolf and "Twenty-four Hours in London" by Richard Steele both detail trips around London.

A) How is London characterized by each author? How is this characterization different between the two essays?

B) What is the message that each author wishes to relay? Why is traveling around London a useful thing?

(see the answer keys)

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