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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. How does Roy feel about Bump Bailey?

2. Why does Bump Bailey get away with ridiculing both the coach and anyone else who crosses him?

3. How does Roy feel about The Judge wanting to push Pop out of his job?

4. Roy consistently reaches out for love. Who does he reach out to in the slump before the game in which he pitches?

5. Who signs the contract for Roy Hobbs to play for the Knights?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens to the Knights when the first-place Pirates come to town to play against them?

2. Discuss the irony that Malamud uses in naming the characters Goodwill Banner and Max Mercy.

3. What happens to Bump when Roy pitches in his place, and why?

4. Explain the term "fair weather fan" and how the term relates to the novel.

5. Harriet is more of a philosophical thinker than Roy. How did her views of baseball differ from Roy's view?

6. What did Pop tell Roy about the pennant game and his dreams?

7. Why does Roy have doubts about playing with the Knights when he has longed for fifteen years to play with them? What about his dream changes when he meets the team?

8. What does Roy decide to do to change his luck and get out of the great slump he is in?

9. Discuss the dreams of Roy and the failures he has experienced up to this point.

10. What is significant about the white rose that Harriet carries?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

When Roy starts hitting for the team, his teammates wonder if he is for himself or the team. Discuss whether he is for the team or himself, or whether his allegiance changes over the course of the book. Defend your answer with passages from the book.

Essay Topic 2

The characters in The Natural are all somewhat "damaged." Discuss what this might show about Malamud's outlook on life in general and also on his perspective of baseball. What might the reader surmise from the way Malamud handles the character's weaknesses?

Essay Topic 3

Roy Hobbs life is full of disasters, but many of which are of his own making. Should we feel sorry for him? Why or why not? Defend your answers with passages from the book.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 976 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample