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This test consists of 5 short answer questions and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Roy wish for when the team gets into a major slump?

2. What does Iris tell Roy that repels him?

3. What does Roy do to get even with Max Mercy?

4. What happens to the Pirates' starting pitcher that pits Roy against a new pitcher?

5. What reason does Roy give for not wanting to talk about his past?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

There are many themes developed in this novel. Discuss one of them and show how they are developed through the novel. Explain what Malamud is trying to tell the reader about that theme.

Essay Topic 2

Discuss The Natural as a novel of magical realism. Magical realism is when a realistic novel contains issues that are stranger than life, unreal, or appearing magical. What purpose do instances of magical realism appear to serve in this novel? Give examples from the novel.

Essay Topic 3

Malamud wrote, "Sometimes as he watched the ball soar, it seemed to him all circles, and he was mystified at his devotion to hacking at it, for he had never really liked the sight of a circle. They got you nowhere but back to the place where you were to begin with." Discuss ways in which Roy travels in a circle, going nowhere but coming back to where he started from. Give examples from the book.

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This section contains 383 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample