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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. What is the occupation of the subject in "That's Why Funerals Are So Sad"?

2. What is Chinaski's emotion in "I'll Take It..."?

3. How old was Chinaski when he took a trip to Tijuana?

4. In "Darkness," what does Chinaski lament?

5. In "My First Affair With That Older Woman," how much older than Chinaski is the woman?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Chinaski point out in "Termites of the Page"?

2. Describe Chinaski's view of humanity.

3. Which poem expresses a counterpoint of an indulgent and listless life?

4. In his poems, Bukowski acknowledges that all people have what, and why?

5. Which poems best reflect Chinaski's connection to generations of artists preceding him and why?

6. What metaphor does Chinaski use to symbolize modern America?

7. What type of conflict does "Red Mercedes" describe?

8. What happens in "The Passing of a Great One" and "The Wine of Forever"?

9. What recurring motif is made most apparent in "Rift"?

10. What is significant about the poems following "The Master Plan" in terms of imagery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

How does Chinaski defend a listless and lazy lifestyle? In addition, explain how Chinaski laments the lie of the American dream and why he does this.

Essay Topic 2

Analyze Chinaski's domestic life. Is domestic life portrayed as positive or negative? Is Chinaski's opinion of domestic life genuine? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss and analyze one metaphor that Chinaski has created in one of his poems to relate to modern American culture and interactions.

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