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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. During the war, what does Fausto's wife do?

2. Where do the police take Winsome after he jumps from the first floor into their net?

3. Who tells Rachel and Profane that the dentist was robbed in Chapter 14?

4. Who goes to the airport to stop Esther from leaving in Chapter 12?

5. When the Whole Sick Crew has a party, who does Winsome and Pig Bodine get in a fight over?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is Paola's relationship with men in Chapter 8?

2. What does Kurt Mondaugen witness in 1922 while in Africa?

3. What does Fausto Mijstral reveal in his letter to his daughter Paola?

4. What happens to V. in Paris?

5. How does fate appear to intervene in the life of Benny Profane in Chapter 8?

6. Why is Fina leaving New York?

7. Why is Rachel angry with Slab?

8. When Fausto changes his personality, what is the role that he assumes?

9. When Benny is propositioned by Mafia, what does he do and what does it reveal about him?

10. Why is Stencil afraid to go to Malta?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe Stencil; What is his role in the story? What is the author trying to accomplish by creating Stencil as a major character of the book?

Essay Topic 2

The author uses more than one theme in the novel. Identify at least two themes in the story and then cite an example to support each theme.

Essay Topic 3

Pynchon is known for paying homage to various authors and works of literature. Choose at least four references used in the book. Write at least 250 words on each reference. Also add your opinion as to why Pynchon chose that particular author or reference.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 694 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample