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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. At the end of Chapter 2, where does Sister Creep decide to hide?

2. After taking control of the Salt Lake settlement, Macklin dons a uniform from what historical place and time?

3. What happens to "the man who likes movies" during his encounter with Sister Creep?

4. Why does Sheila stay with Roland and Macklin?

5. Roland and Macklin barter with the Fat Man for a tent that formerly belonged to whom?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe the problem that occurs at Earth House just after the nuclear attacks begin.

2. What connections are drawn between Doyle Halland and wolves in this section?

3. Why does Sister decide to continue to Kansas?

4. Describe the ritual that the survivors in Paul's cabin carry out every day.

5. What does Roland do for Colonel Macklin?

6. What happens to the leadership of the American government shortly after the nuclear attacks begin?

7. What are Macklin's first actions as the new ruler of the Salt Lake settlement?

8. What cards appear during the tarot reading that Leona performs for Swan, and what do the cards mean?

9. What does Doyle do to the members of Sister's group and why?

10. What is unusual about the fight that Josh engages in in Chapter 2?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Roland is one of the primary antagonists of the novel. A deeply flawed child at the beginning of the story, Roland only degrades from his initial position of extreme moral deprivation. When Friend, a supernatural being of pure evil who may be an embodiment of the devil himself, encounters Roland, he describes it like looking into a mirror.

1) Explain who Roland is and how he became an important player in the post-blast world.

2) Discuss Roland's moral flaws, including their origins and impacts on him, and the lowest depths to which Roland is willing to sink.

3) Explain the ways that Roland is able to deal with the violence he causes and sees around him and how he justifies his own works. Explain how the King's Knight game plays into this belief system.

4) Explain why Roland needs a strong figure, such as Macklin or Friend, to follow.

5) Track Roland's descent throughout the novel to the point when he asks to follow Friend and is rejected.

Essay Topic 2

Robin and Swan are close in age and are immediately attracted to each other when they meet. For his part, Robin believes Swan to be the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. He falls in love with her at first sight. Although they know they have feelings for each other, they have difficulty expressing them, since they are adolescents and have had little social grooming.

1) Describe the similarities and differences between Swan and Robin. They are both leaders. How do their leadership styles differ?

2) Discuss why Robin and Swan are drawn to each other and why they have difficulties expressing themselves.

3) Explain how Robin and Swan grow closer and eventually confess their feelings.

Essay Topic 3

Near the end of the novel, Friend admits that his goal is to destroy the human spirit.

1) Explain what is meant by the human spirit in the context of the novel.

2) Explain why Friend wants to destroy the human spirit and the world that would exist if he succeeded.

3) Discuss ways that the human spirit is degraded or strengthened throughout the novel, and explain how these ends are achieved.

4) Describe Swan's impact on the strength of the human spirit in other individuals and communities.

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This section contains 987 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample