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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 does Hank say wakes him up?

2. Who does Willard's plan involve in deceiving?

3. This section begins with a reference to _________.

4. What does Jenny want the shells to form?

5. What is Henry going to show Hank how to do?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Lee refuse to get out of bed?

2. What is Willard's mistress' plan to continue their relationship?

3. In what way are the Canadian geese in both Hank and Lee's thoughts?

4. How does Hank react to Willard's death?

5. Describe what happens at the Snag in Chapter 6, Part 2.

6. What does Lee realize as he watches his brother fight and beat up Biggy?

7. Why does Hank not want Joe-Ben to shoot the geese?

8. Summarize the prologue that opens Chapter 11.

9. Describe Henry's time in the town.

10. Why is Simone so happy?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Examine the theme of revenge. What characters in the novel are out for revenge? How does it affect their decisions and who they are in the book? Does the character's revenge become destructive? Why does Kesey use a revenge theme in the novel? What meaning does it give the story?

Essay Topic 2

Sometime a Great Notion is an influential novel. Choose a book written after Sometimes a Great Notion that you think was influenced by the novel and discuss their similarities in terms of

a) plot

b) character

c) themes.

Essay Topic 3

Examine the novel's dialogue. How does Kesey's dialogue contribute to the following areas:

1) Character

2) Setting

3) Plot

(see the answer keys)

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