View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Mazie spend most of her evenings?

2. What is the name of the place in "The Obituary of a Fin Mill"?

3. What does Mitchell say populated streets at night?

4. What occupation does Jane dream of having?

5. Who told Mitchell about the club for deaf people?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who is Mazie Gordon?

2. Who is Jane Barnell?

3. What happens in "I Blame it all on Mama"?

4. Who is Andrew Zimmer?

5. Who is Mr. Cusack?

6. What significance does Mr. Cusack place on the full moon?

7. What are Mitchell's feelings about the privacy of his subjects?

8. What tone does Mitchell use to discuss the personalities in Up in the Old Hotel and Other Stories?

9. What does it mean that Jane has only a limited ability to be happy?

10. Which subject is the biggest supporter of the idea that things are always getting worse?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Many of Mitchell's stories involve the ocean or harvesting for seafood. To what extent is the ocean a symbol in Mitchell's stories? What does the ocean symbolize? Is it just a coincidence?

Essay Topic 2

Who is the intended audience of Up in the Old Hotel and Other Stories? How do you know? Analyze the role diction and other literary devices play in shaping an ideal audience for this collection of short stories.

Essay Topic 3

Describe the importance of setting In Mitchell's stories. What setting is most significant? Does setting ever come off more strongly than the characters and plots in the stories? Explain.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 860 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample