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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 Kala’s mate want to do with Tarzan?

2. Where does Lord Greystoke charter a sailing vessel?

3. From which book does Tarzan learn the most about writing?

4. What does the small man do when Clayton walks away after arguing with him in Chapter 13?

5. Why can’t Tarzan read his father’s diary?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tarzan learn to read and write and at what age does he read the child’s primer?

2. How do Tarzan and Clayton get back to the cabin fast when they hear a gunshot?

3. What is Lord Greystoke told by a crew member and what does he do with this information?

4. What does Tarzan see in Chapter 13 when he returns to the cabin from getting clothing?

5. Why is Lord Greystoke in Africa and what kind of man does the narrator say he is?

6. How many apes are in Kerchak’s tribe and what is Kala like?

7. How does Kala die and what does Tarzan do about her death?

8. What does Tarzan do in Kulonga’s hut in the village and how do the villagers react?

9. In Chapter 3, what happens when the ship reaches land and what do the Greystokes do immediately?

10. How does Tarzan become King of the Apes?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tarzan of the Apes belongs to the fantasy genre.

Define the literary term "genre" and name three other genres in addition to the fantasy genre. What are the advantages and disadvantages of assigning a genre to a novel? What do you think is the difference between a fantasy and a historical novel or mystery?

Essay Topic 2

Define plot and include the definitions of the most important elements of a plot. Do all novels have a plot? Why or why not? Write a brief synopsis of the plot of Tarzan of the Apes, identifying where the various elements of the plot occur (Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution or denouement). Do you find it difficult to identify the plot? Why or why not? What about the various elements of the plot? Give a brief synopsis of any important sub-plots.

Essay Topic 3

Oftentimes, a book has more of a character-driven plot rather than action driven, and oftentimes the other way. Some books seem to balance the two.

What do you think it means to say that a plot is character driven or action driven? Which type of plot do you find more interesting? Why? Do you think it is possible to have a plot where action and character are developed to the same degree? Why or why not? What type of plot do you think Tarzan of the Apes is? Explain your response.

(see the answer keys)

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