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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 Chapter 9, what does the author say about the genre of this novel?

2. In Chapter 15, what opinion does the narrator have about Claude's psychic ability?

3. How old is the man in Chapter 5?

4. How does Lowtis feel in Chapter 20?

5. In Chapter 19, what is one main reason given for the problems of America?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes Chapter 4 different from Chapters 1-3?

2. In Chapter 19, what seems to be the favored solution to what is wrong with America?

3. What is Stecyk's job in Chapter 14?

4. In Chapter 10, how does the author explain the existence of the bureaucratic systems he describes?

5. How do the characters in Chapter 18 react to Desk Names?

6. What makes Chapter 20 confusing in the construction of this novel?

7. How could the interview in Chapter 21 be described?

8. In Chapter 5, how is the boy described?

9. What types of information does the author provide via interview in Chapter 14?

10. While describing Stecyk in Chapter 12, what does the narrator comment on about the boy's future?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Research the IRS to compare the IRS details in the novel to the truth. Why might the author have maintained some facts and disregarded others?

Essay Topic 2

Analyze the use of post-modernism techniques. Consider the unique text layouts, formats, footnotes, columns, interviews, etc. How do these textual features affect the development of this novel?

Essay Topic 3

Even though this novel has many characters, what makes David the protagonist of this novel? Compare his role in the novel to definitions of protagonists. How can a protagonist still exist in such a disjointed novel?

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