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. What falls from the sky when Cincinnatus goes to bed to read his novel?

2. What does Cincinnatus refuse to do after Pierre's speech about why he pretended to be a prisoner?

3. Who brings Cincinnatus' chair back to him?

4. What do women throw at Cincinnatus as he passes on the way to his execution?

5. What time of day do the scratching noises start up again, for the last time?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does the librarian do when Cincinnatus tries to express his true thoughts?

2. What does Pierre do after the party starts breaking up, before heading back to the prison?

3. How does Rodion act toward Cincinnatus?

4. How does Cincinnatus react when Pierre, the director, and the lawyer announce that it is time for his execution?

5. What announcements does the deputy city director make before the execution?

6. What does Pierre do, when the party moves outside at the meeting between Cincinnatus, Pierre, and the city officials?

7. What does Emmie's mother describe as Emmie's last prank before going back to school?

8. Describe the plot of Quercus.

9. What happens at the moment of Cincinnatus's execution?

10. Describe what happens to Cincinnatus's cell when the tunnel is completed.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Rodrig and Rodion are the two main representatives of the prison staff in the novel, and throughout the novel, they transform into each other. Discuss the significance of Rodion and Rodrig in the novel.

1) Why are Rodrig and Rodion associated with each other? What do they have in common?

2) What are Rodrig and Rodion's differences? How superficial are these differences?

3) How do Rodrig and Rodion view Cincinnatus? What does Cincinnatus think of the two prison employees? What do they represent in the novel?

Essay Topic 2

Cincinnatus's mother Cecelia C. is one of the few people to visit him in prison. Discuss Cecelia C.'s role in the novel.

1) What is Cincinnatus's attitude toward his mother?

2) Why does Cecelia C. come to see him in prison? What does her attitude toward Cincinnatus seem to be? Why did she abandon her son, and why does she come to see him again?

3) How is Cecelia C.'s visit different from the other visits Cincinnatus receives in prison? How is he similar to his mother? How are they different? What affect does the visit have on Cincinnatus?

Essay Topic 3

Discuss communication in the novel.

1) Why does Cincinnatus believe he has communicated with whoever he hears digging a tunnel beyond his wall? How does he feel about having communicated? What does he hope to gain through this communication?

2) How does Cincinnatus use his writing to try to communicate? What is he trying to communicate, and to whom?

3) In what other ways does Cincinnatus try to communicate with those around him? What are the obstacles to communication?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 823 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample