"A Shiner Like a Diamond "
"Shooting Dad"
Comparing Essays
Throw Backs
Random Trivia
100

Describe Amy's relationship with identity. 

She delights in adopting different personas and impersonations.

100

 How is Sara Vowell’s relationship with her father characterized?

 Affection mixed with persistent ideological tension

100

Are both essays written subjectively or objectively?

Subjectively

100

What were the names of the devices worn in the ears of citizens in Fahrenheit 451?

Seashells

100

Which freezes faster: hot or cold water?

Hot

200

Lou's repeated comments about his daughters’ appearance primarily reveal that he is..

Preoccupied with traditional views of women’s value

200

In "Shooting Dad," how does Vowell’s repetition of small ritual details (e.g., hunting trips, listening to radio) affect the reader’s understanding of her father?

It highlights the depth of his convictions and how rituals reinforce identity.

200

In comparing the two essays, which common theme emerges?

Both explore how family relationships persist despite differences in belief or behavior.

200

What does Montag describe as smelling like perfume?

Kerosene 

200

Jim Henson is the creator of what beloved cast of characters

The Muppets

300

When Amy dresses in the “fatty suit” and wears it home, her father’s reaction most strongly conveys...

Genuine alarm and emotional distress

300

When Vowell recounts learning to shoot with her father, the anecdote functions primarily to symbolize...

their shared but conflicting values and rituals

300

In terms of narrative perspective, what is a major difference between the two essays?

Sedaris's reflections emphasize memory and family lore; Vowell foregrounds political difference within family rituals.

300

What happens to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern at the end of the play?

They are executed in England

300

What was the first animal to ever be cloned?

Sheep

400

How does the author use most to characterize Amy throughout the excerpts? (Hint: Think STEAL).

Showing her actions and performances that reveal her personality

400

What does Vowell’s decision to include personal family anecdotes illustrate about politics and identity?

How politics shapes personal identity and family dynamics

400

How would you describe the tone of both essays?

Both are a blend of affectionate intimacy with sharp critique.

400

Whose skull does Hamlet famously hold in the graveyard?

Yorick

400

What is Prince Harry’s official first name?

Henry

500

Sedaris’s choice to narrate in the first person mainly allows him to

Offers direct access to his internal thoughts and ironic commentary

500

Which rhetorical strategy does Vowell frequently use in "Shooting Dad" to engage readers?

Satirical humor and sharp detail

500

Both Sedaris and Vowell use humor in their essays. The effect of humor in both pieces is to..

Humanize the narrators and create distance to critique people/ideas

500

Who is the first character to see the Ghost in Hamlet?

Marcellus (along with Bernardo).

500

Which month of the year is National Ice Cream Month?

July