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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. How much rent will Pilon pay each month?

2. Where does Big Joe Portagee spend half his civilian life?

3. For whom does the person in #26 buy wine, lingerie and whiskey?

4. What do people do when they see the Pirate?

5. What do Pilon and Pablo worry about in the new housing arrangement?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Pilon explain about keeping the treasures one finds in a St. Andrew's Eve dig?

2. Why do the paisanos follow the Pirate every morning?

3. How does the author use foreshadowing when Pilon and Pablo are talking about deceased friends?

4. What does the town of Tortilla Flat seem to thrive on and how do the paisanos feel about Danny's love interest?

5. How does Pilon rationalize not getting any gold for Danny?

6. How does Pilon try to convince the Pirate to come live in the house with the paisanos?

7. Where does Pilon actually move and who does he invite to move in with him?

8. What is the reason for Danny's becoming drunk and disorderly and what is his sentence?

9. How does Arabella Gross take advantage of Jesus Maria Corcoran?

10. What are Danny's reactions when he learns that his second house has burned down?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain Steinbeck's use of regionalism in the book. Cite examples of at least two different instances of regionalism and explain why the author used them where he did.

Essay Topic 2

How does Steinbeck use the literary technique of local color in Tortilla Flat? What elements comprise local color? Give some examples of the local color in Tortilla Flat establishments. In the characters. In the events.

Essay Topic 3

Steinbeck populates Tortilla Flat with several eccentric characters. Who are the eccentrics in the novel? What makes them eccentric? Do you have a favorite eccentric in the book? Why? What makes him/her so appealing to you?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 859 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample